Full Notification

DATE/TIME: April 4, 2020 / 4:30 p.m.

INCIDENT: PC 182(a)(1) - Conspiracy to Commit Crime
PC 459.5 - Retail Theft

LOCATION: 34600 block of Yucaipa Blvd., Yucaipa

SUSPECT(S): Christian Melendrez, age 21 a resident of Cherry Valley
Brittany Aguirre, age 28 a resident of Cherry Valley
Kody Ganzer, age 26 a resident of Cherry Valley


VICTIM(S): Big Lots


SUMMARY:
On Saturday, April 4t, at approximately 4:30 p.m., deputies responded to a theft at Big Lots. Suspects Christian Melendrez, Brittany Aguirre and Kody Ganzer entered the Big Lots store and filled two shopping carts with store merchandise. Once the carts were filled, Aguirre walked to their car and waited. Ganzer and Melendrez went out the emergency exit with both shopping carts and started unloading items into their vehicle. A vigilant community member saw the crime unfolding and took pictures of the suspects and their vehicle prior to them leaving the parking lot. The suspects were interrupted by the community member and fled without fully emptying the carts, Melendrez left his wallet in one of the shopping carts with his identification inside it. The suspects returned to the store later to try pick up the wallet and were arrested.

Property from Big Lots and Auto Zone was located inside the vehicle. All stolen property was returned to Big Lots and Auto Zone. The value of property stolen from Big Lots was nearly $700.00 and slightly over $100.00 from Auto Zone.

The three suspects were arrested and booked into Central Detention Center. Melendrez ad Ganzer were booked on theft and conspiracy charges with bail set at $30,000 each. Aguirre was booked on those charges and was found to have four warrants out of Riverside County for theft and fraud charges and is being held on bail of $85,000.

Anyone with information related to the investigation is asked to contact the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department Yucaipa Station at (760)366-4175. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous may contact We-Tip at 1-888-78-CRIME...

Refer: Deputy M. Miller

Station: Yucaipa Police Department

Phone No. (909) 918-2305

Case No. 142001053

JOHN McMAHON, Sheriff-Coroner
San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner Department