Full Notification

An unusually active day for retail thieves leads to several arrests by both SMPD officers and members of the multi-agency Organized Retail Theft Task Force.
 
Wednesday, March 19, 2025, was an extremely busy day for San Mateo Police Officers and the Organized Retail Theft Task Force (ORTTF). SMPD was dispatched to lululemon at Hillsdale Shopping Center at 11:14am, after Teivishon Nelson and another subject were contacted for concealing $875 worth of items and then attempting to return them for store credit in an effort to later sell the merchandise credit card at a discounted rate. Nelson was arrested and transported to the San Mateo County Jail for Booking and the other subject was cited at the scene for his part in this incident.
 
ARRESTED:
Teivishon Nelson Salahudin, age 30, Reno, Nevada
CHARGES:
666.1(a)(1)PC – Petty Theft w/2 or more priors and 490.4(a)(1)PC – Organized Retail Theft with intent to sell.
 
A couple hours later, officers returned to lululemon at 1:13pm, when it was reported several females who previously stole from the store (and others) had returned to the location and conducted a refund transaction. During the investigation and subsequent contact, items stolen from lululemon in Los Angeles were located inside an associated vehicle. This case is still under investigation, but we can confirm at this time that at least one was arrested on a felony warrant. Charges pertaining to 496(a)PC – Possession of stolen property are still being finalized.
 
ARRESTED:
Endya Patteway, age 26, Union City, CA
CHARGES:
Felony warrant
 
If two lululemon thefts weren’t enough, a third rounded out the day. At 2:02pm, while still investigating all cases mentioned above, we were again dispatched to lululemon when a known thief attempted to conduct the same type of refund fraud referenced earlier. Crystal Sandling and an accomplice attempted to return stolen items after purchasing and then returning the new items. When Sandling was stopped in her vehicle after leaving the mall, 17 pieces of merchandise, a security tag remover, and a tinfoil lined paper bag (used to defeat security alarms) were located. Sandling was arrested and an arrest warrant for 496(a)PC – Possession of Stolen Property is being sought for her accomplice.
 
ARRESTED:
Crystal Sandling, age 41, Antioch, CA
CHARGES:
666.1(a)(1)PC – Petty Theft w/2 or more priors and 496(a)PC – Possess stolen property
 
Three minutes later, we received a call from Macy’s, that ultimately resulted in a shoplifting citation. As we were investigating all of the above, we then received a call from Home Depot at 2:44pm reporting a theft occurring. When officers arrived, they contacted Omar Gomez, who had stolen approximately $886.31 worth of merchandise. As officers approached him at his vehicle, they determined the vehicle, a UHaul truck, was reported as stolen. The passenger, Philisity Hosino, was found to be in possession of drug paraphernalia and had three active warrants for her arrest. Both were arrested and transported to San Mateo County Jail for Booking.
 
ARRESTED:
Omar Gomez, 50, Transient
Philisty Hosino, 26, Hayward, CA
CHARGES: 
Gomez:  666.1(a)(1)PC – Petty Theft w/2 or more priors and 496D(a)PC – Possess stolen vehicle
Hosino:  11364(a)HS – Possess drug paraphernalia, 3 warrants

The Daly City, San Bruno, and San Mateo Police Departments are proud of the arrests made as part of the Organized Retail Theft Task Force (ORTTF), a collaborative effort supported by a multi-million-dollar grant awarded by the California Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC).

These results reflect the impact of a focused, multi-agency effort. The collaboration between the Daly City, San Bruno, and San Mateo Police Departments ensures targeted strategies and coordinated actions to address organized retail crime within our jurisdictions. This effort is further strengthened by working closely with the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office, ensuring a unified approach to investigations and prosecutions.

Impact and Commitment
The Daly City, San Bruno, and San Mateo Police Departments are committed to reducing the impact of organized retail theft on local businesses and the community. By leveraging grant-funded resources and enhanced investigative tools, these agencies are tackling this complex issue with measurable success. The efforts of the ORTTF reflect a shared dedication to protecting residents, retailers, and the overall quality of life in our cities.

Looking Forward
The Daly City, San Bruno, and San Mateo Police Departments will continue working together to combat organized retail theft within their jurisdictions. The task force remains committed to making our communities safer and more secure.