3 arrested after police bust organized theft ring of iPads, iPhones in Hamilton County

HAMILTON COUNTY, Ind. — Three men accused of stealing dozens of iPads and iPhones from the front porches of homes in Carmel and Fishers are facing multiple charges.

Court documents show that Jose Daniel, Teran Lopez and Harold Jose Coronado Torrealba are facing the following preliminary charges:

• Corrupt business influence (level 5 felony)
• Organized theft (level 6 felony)
• Theft (level 6 felony)

Meanwhile, Yilberg Gabriel Gonzalez Marin was charged with operating a motor vehicle while never receiving a license, which is a misdemeanor.

The investigation into the trio’s alleged thefts began on Sept. 9 when officers with the Carmel Police Department were called at 12:55 p.m. to investigate a possible stolen package from a residence located in the 13700 block of Driftwood Drive.

When officers arrived, court documents show that they spoke with a FedEx driver who reportedly witnessed the thefts.

The witness told investigators that they delivered a package around 12:47 p.m. While returning to the company vehicle, the FexEx employee observed a dark gray Toyota Corolla that was parked nearby. At this time, the driver said they saw a Hispanic male clad in entirely black clothing exit from the vehicle’s passenger side and begin “jogging” in the direction of the residence.

The same Hispanic male was then observed allegedly picking up the package and running back to the Toyota Corolla before it left the area, according to court documents.

Court records show that the FedEx driver managed to snap a picture of the vehicle before it was out of sight.

Officers were then alerted to the presence of the same Toyota Corolla as it was traveling eastbound on 126th Street from Gray Road. This time, officers noticed that it was being followed by a white Toyota Corolla. CPD officers conducted a traffic stop on the gray Toyota Corolla. The driver was identified as Harold Jose Coronado Torrealba.

At this time, the driver of the white Toyota Corolla, identified as Yilberg Gabriel Gonzalez Marin, reportedly motioned to officers that he was traveling alongside the other Toyota Corolla.

During the traffic stop, officers located numerous items that appeared to be stolen packages inside both vehicles, according to court documents.

During their search of the white Toyota Corolla, police reportedly found an AT&T box containing a black iPad. Officers believed at the time that this was the package that was initially taken from the home on Driftwood Drive. Officers later determined that this was a different iPad.

Officers also found a package that appeared to be stolen from a residence in Fishers while searching the same vehicle. This package also had an Apple iPad inside of it.

As police continued investigating the series of thefts, one officer was told by an Uber driver that they received a request to drive a man named “Marco” to the residence on Driftwood Drive.

While speaking with Teran Lopez, one officer observed him viewing images on his phone depicting iPad serial numbers, court documents said. Officers were unable to find any evidence that the three suspects had previously ordered an Uber to Driftwood Drive.

All three individuals were detained and transported to the Carmel Police Department’s headquarters for further questioning.

According to court documents, Teran Lopez admitted to officers that he was driving the dark gray Toyota Corolla while Coronado allegedly exited the vehicle and stole the package.

After additional questioning, officers executed a search warrant on Sept. 10 at an apartment at Arrowae Drive, which was listed as Teran Lopez’s address, as officers believed the iPad that was originally stolen from Driftwood Drive would be found there.

Court documents show that officers obtained the victim’s stolen iPad, which was valued at $1,677. The black Apple iPad Pro was still in its original packaging when it was found.

Police also discovered a box containing 11 packaged iPads, three packaged iPhone 15 Pro Max phones, one packaged iPhone 15, one packaged iPhone SE, one packaged iPad Air and one packaged Apple Watch Ultra 2 in a bedroom closet inside the apartment.

Officers also found evidence that the trio had stolen a large order of iPads intended to arrive at Heartland Food Products, a business located in the 14000 block of Clay Terrace Boulevard. The company had ordered 18 iPads to be shipped on the night of Sept. 5. It reported to CPD that it only received seven iPads.

CPD said the remaining 11 were found in the closet of the apartment located on Arrowae Drive.

Teran Lopez later told police that the trio had been selling the iPads for $250 each and selling the packaged iPhones for $450 each.

“Investigation revealed that the accused operated in an organized fashion when
obtaining stolen items,” court documents said. “The accused coordinated the thefts by following the delivery driver, then executing the crimes as a team made up of drivers and handlers. The accused would steal the items with the intent on selling them at a discounted rate to make a profit.”

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