HOLLISTER, CALIFORNIA – June 2, 2024– Hollister Police officers arrest two suspects for burglary, and grand theft related to two commercial burglaries occurring at the same business a few days apart.
On May 29, at about 8:13 am, Hollister Police Community Services Officer, D. Torres, responded to the 1100 block of East Park Street for a commercial burglary that occurred sometime overnight. It was determined two suspects, a male and female, forced entry into a storage area of the business. It appeared the suspects rummaged through the storage area and only took a few items. A report was generated and follow up to identify the two suspects was being completed.
On May 31, at about 8:26 am, Hollister Police officer L. Pimentel responded to the same business on East Park Street for an additional commercial burglary that occurred overnight. The business has security surveillance around the property which captured both burglaries. The same two suspects from a few days prior forced entry into a storage area of the business and stole approximately $1,000 dollars’ worth of property.
Hollister Police officer L. Pimentel was able to review the security surveillance footage from both burglaries. He immediately recognized the male and female suspects from prior contacts. The male suspect was identified as Osvaldo Vergara (44) and the female was identified as Katherine Branch (57).
Hollister Police officers began to circulate the City of Hollister for know locations Vergara and Branch frequented. At about 10:40 am, officer L. Pimentel located Vergara in the 800 block of East Street, and he was arrested. Vergara was transported to the San Benito County Jail and booked. At about 11:37 am, Branch was located in the San Benito County riverbed. Officers found property stolen from the business during the burglary when they contacted Branch. In addition, clothing items and a bicycle used in the burglary were located. Branch was arrested and transported to the San Benito County Jail. Vergara and Branch were both booked on the charges of separate burglaries and grand theft.
Anyone with information about this case is asked to call Officer L. Pimentel at the Hollister Police Department at 636-4330. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call the WeTip hotline at 800-78-CRIME. Information provided to WeTip may qualify for a reward.
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Prepared by: M. Paddy, Sergeant
Approved by: C. Reynoso, Chief of Police
24-1461
