Three East Bay men have been arrested in connection with robberies targeting AAPI — Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders — communities across the Bay Area, San Jose police said Monday.
The trio, suspected of a series of armed robberies between December and February, were identified as Joel Contreras Barrón, 26, of Antioch, Francisco Rincón, 28, of Richmond, and Juan Rodríguez Ramírez, 26, of Richmond.
Investigators say the men are linked to 13 robberies, five grand thefts and countless vehicle thefts in the region.
San Jose detectives, working with police in San Pablo Santa Clara and Stockton, identified the suspects and obtained arrest warrants, as well as search warrants for their homes.
On February 25, Rodriguez Ramirez was arrested by Stockton police for robbery and remains in custody.
On April 14, 2023, a series of vehicle thefts occurred at the Grand Century Mall and San Jose Police located a car associated with a suspect. Contreras Barron was arrested in connection with the vehicle thefts and his outstanding arrest warrant.
On April 26, the San Jose Police Undercover Response Unit located and arrested Rincon in Richmond.
The suspects were booked into the Santa Clara County Main Jail and the San Joaquin County Jail on suspicion of multiple felonies.
Anyone with information regarding these or similar cases is asked to contact Detective Yee #4342 of the San Jose Police Robbery Unit by email: 4342@sanjoseca.gov or 408-277-4166.
Submit crime tips and remain anonymous by using the P3TIPS mobile app, calling the tip line at (408) 947-STOP or at www.svcrimestoppers.org.
If information leads to an arrest, a cash reward may be available through the Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers program.
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