Cannabis burglary suspects linked to multi-county crime spree

– San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a burglary in progress at a cannabis processing plant in northern San Luis Obispo County on Jan. 16 at approximately 4:15 a.m. Witnesses reported seeing at least seven suspects running from the business carrying bags of cannabis. By the time deputies arrived, the suspects had already fled the scene.

Deputies discovered that at least 500 pounds of processed and packaged marijuana had been stolen, and a safe had been broken into. The estimated loss was $500,000.

A detective with the Sheriff’s Cannabis Compliance Team conducted a follow-up investigation and learned of a similar crime in San Jose. The detective contacted the San Jose Police Department and the California Department of Justice (DOJ), leading to a multi-agency investigation into a group of Oakland gang members targeting cannabis-related facilities.

Last week, the California DOJ arrested and charged 22 people in connection with these crimes, including 13 suspects involved in the San Luis Obispo County burglary. The suspects are believed to be responsible for at least 15 dispensary burglaries across nine California counties, resulting in a loss of more than $1 million and nearly 1,000 pounds of cannabis.