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Package thieves were caught while loading stolen packages into their vehicles instead of Santa’s Sleigh. Both earned themselves a trip to jail and their names added to the SMPD Naughty List.
 
San Mateo, CA – December 18, 2025 – As an ongoing effort to deter crime, the San Mateo Police Department routinely conducts “passing checks” of various locations for numerous reasons. At approximately 4:30 a.m. this morning, officers proactively conducted a passing check of an apartment complex on the 200 block of 8^th Ave. This location had previously been victim to prior package thefts. While there, officers located two vehicles parked in front of the complex with packages on the ground next to them, but no one around. Additional packages with various names and addresses could be seen inside the vehicles in plain view. Believing they interrupted a burglary, officers attempted to locate the subjects associated with the packages and/or vehicles.
 
Descriptions of the suspects responsible for the previous package thefts were relayed to the officers, as was the vehicle information for the current incident. Shortly thereafter, a male was located and identified as the suspect in the previous theft. Witness statements informed officers the male had a female counterpart with him, who was eventually located as well. The vehicles were linked to these two subjects, and in this instance, officers learned the subjects entered the apartment complex’ secured package storage room and selected multiple packages from the shelves, which they then loaded into their vehicles before returning for more. Further investigation determined these subjects were responsible for at least three other package thefts since October.
 
Both suspects, identified as Brian Coates and Christina Bonham, were arrested, their vehicles were towed, and a search of Bonham revealed drugs on her person. They were transported and booked into the San Mateo County Jail. All packages were collected and were returned to their owners or are pending return.
 
Security cameras and alarm systems play a vital role in not only deterring crime, but helping to identify criminals once a crime has been committed. This holiday season, take advantage of discounts on security cameras if you don’t already have one. And if you do, make sure to position them to capture the ingress/egress and common areas of your property, as well as street facing. This footage continues to prove fruitful. If you have a security camera system, please visit www.sanmateoconnect.org to register them with us. There, you can also learn how to integrate your system with us to give us live access. And always remember, “if you see something, say something.”

ARRESTED/CHARGE(S):
Christina Bonham, age 37, Daly City Resident
460(a)PC-First Degree Burglary, 182(a)(1)PC-Conspiracy, 11377(a)HS-Possess a Controlled Substance
 
Brian Coates, age 43, San Bruno Resident
460(a)PC-First Degree Burglary, 666.1(a)(1)PC-Petty Theft w/2+ Priors, 182(a)(1)PC-Conspiracy

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