Suspected thieves steal laptop from Monterey Starbucks table

MONTEREY COUNTY, Calif. (KION) Five people have been arrested after police said they stole a laptop and tried to steal another laptop from customers at two separate Starbucks locations on the Monterey Peninsula.

The Monterey Police Department says officers were sent Tuesday at around noon to the Monterey Starbucks at 2020 Del Monte Avenue for a report of a theft.

"It's rare for our area, but we have gotten reports of other communities that have experienced similar crimes," said Lt. Ethan Andrews,  who works with the Peninsula Regional Violence and Narcotics Team.

According to police, the victim said he was inside the Starbucks when two of the suspects went in and stole the laptop computer from the table he was sitting at.

Police say one suspect took the laptop while the other held the business door open for him to get out. They both took off on foot and went into a dark colored sedan that was waiting for them and drove off.

"It's shocking because you go there every day," said Nicole Cook, a Pebble Beach resident. "I'm never anymore shocked at what could happen in the United States."

Twenty minutes after that alleged theft, Pacific Grove Police officers say they were called to the Starbucks at 100 Canyon Club Gate Center for an attempted strong armed robbery.

Police say that victim reported that one of the suspects attempted to steal his laptop from the table he was sitting at. That victim grabbed the laptop back and a struggle began.

According to police, a second suspect went to that victim and started hitting him while the victim was still struggling with the first suspect. Other customers tried to help the victim and detained the first suspect. 

The second suspect took off on foot and got into a gray Honda sedan with the license plate removed. The vehicle took off from that area and a Pacific Grove police officer saw it speeding on Lighthouse Avenue into Monterey.

Meanwhile, Pacific Grove police officers got to the PG Starbucks and took the first suspect, still detained by other customers, into custody. The victim was not injured.

The suspect vehicle description was broadcast for law enforcement agencies to be on the look out. Monterey Police officers saw the vehicle traveling on Highway 1 north by Canyon Del Rey Boulevard and tried to perform a traffic stop. 

The vehicle fled on the highway and a chase started. Once that chase got to Highway 1 and Del Monte in Marina, the California Highway Patrol took over.

In the area of Monterey Road and Koror Lane in Gilroy, the CHP with help from the Gilroy Police Department, used tire deflation equipment and a pursuit intervention technique to stop the car.

The vehicle stopped and four suspects were found including two adults and two teenagers.

The stolen laptop from Monterey was found inside the vehicle and a loaded handgun was taken from the trunk.

The Peninsula Regional Violence and Narcotics Team (PRVNT) took over the investigation and found that the theft in Monterey and attempted robbery in Pacific Grove were performed by the same suspects.

PRVNT says the suspects are believed to have conspired together to travel to the Monterey Peninsula to steal laptop computers. Police say the adult suspects would enter the business and look for valuable laptops to steal, would then exit and send the teens in to steal the laptops.

"There appears to be organized groups that may be traveling up and down the state of California committing similar types of thefts," said Lt. Andrews.

Three 15-year-olds from the Bay Area were booked into the Monterey County Juvenile Hall and were held without bail.

Two adults were booked into the Monterey County Jail:

Onajee Williams, 24-years-old from Oakland.

Quenzell Thomas, 21-years-old from Antioch.

Williams, was booked on several charges including burglary and reckless invasion. His bail was set at $50,000. 

Thomas faces burglary, grand theft and conspiracy charges. He was found to have outstanding warrants from Brentwood Police Department for his arrest for theft. He was held without bail.

Police ask anyone with information to call investigators at 831-646-6926 or 831-646-3840 if you would like to remain anonymous.