HOLLISTER, CALIFORNIA – December 8, 2024 – The Hollister Police Department arrested three subjects on December 7, 2024, for multiple felony charges including Robbery, Conspiracy, Mail Theft, Possession of Burglary Tools, and various drug related charges.
On December 7, 2024, at about 2:35 AM, a Hollister resident was driving home in the area of Lucero Dr. and Santa Ana Rd. when he noticed three men stealing mail from the community mailbox. This mailbox has been the target of multiple thefts in last year. The resident got out of his car and began taking photographs of the men using his cell phone. The 3 men then attacked the victim, stealing his phone and attempting to steal his wallet. The victim was able to defend himself by knocking one of the suspects to the ground (essentially knocking one of the suspects out of his shoe) and escaping to safety. The suspects then fled the area in their vehicle towards Fairview Rd.
Officer Provost was driving in the area when he was flagged down by the victim and told of what had just occurred, including a good description of the vehicle. Officer Provost drove towards where the vehicle was last seen and advised our dispatch center of the incident. Officer Provost located the vehicle driving at a high rate of speed on Fairview Rd. and coordinated with responding units from the Hollister Police Department and the San Benito County Sheriff’s Office. A “high risk” stop was conducted on the vehicle in the 6500 block of Fairview Rd.
A large amount of stolen mail, Post Office keys, homemade keys, a lockpick set, drugs the broken phone of the witness and other evidence was found in or around the suspect vehicle. Gane Lee of Fresno, Sombat Vang of Clovis, and Eng Yang of Fresno were arrested and charged with multiple felony counts.
Officers also recovered evidence in the vehicle tying these suspects to mail thefts in the Fresno area. The Hollister office of the Post Master General has been notified and we will be working with them to determine if these suspects are linked to any other mail thefts.
The Hollister Police Department would like to thank the Hollister resident for assisting our officers with stopping this crime and giving us the information needed to prosecute these suspects. We ask the public to consider their safety before getting physically involved in a crime. Calling 911 to report crimes in progress, providing descriptions and license plates are extremely helpful. The police cannot be everywhere when crimes are occurring but by partnering with our residents who call the police and report crimes, it makes Hollister a safer place to live.
We have been able to return stolen mail to a number of residents so far but still have a lot to go. If you live on Cabrillo Drive, Brigantino Drive, Marbella Circle, Cielo Court, or Blenheim Court, please contact our Evidence Bureau at (831) 636-4330 to determine if we have mail we can return to you.
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Prepared by: Chris Wells, Sergeant
Approved by: Carlos Reynoso, Chief of Police
