Santa Cruz residents boycott gas station for running stolen property operation

“I want those owners out of here,” said Santa Cruz resident Sharon Dejong.

Nearly 50 community members protested in front of the 76 gas station on the corner of Mission Street and Walnut Avenue, where police discovered stolen goods that were traded or resold at the gas station or bay area flea markets.

“We’re trying to send a loud message that we’re not going to accept illegal operations in our local hometown businesses,” said resident Greg Larson.

Police said a stolen iPad led them to the gas station.

“The victim of the stolen iPad activated the “Find My iPad App” and we were able to locate it in that exact store location,” said Santa Cruz Police Department community relations specialist Joyce Blaschke. “When the officer went in the alarm on the iPad went out.”

Officers then connected gas station manager Felipe Chavez and employee Angel Guzman to the stolen iPad.

Investigators found more stolen property in their cars and in a backroom at the gas station that had stolen bikes and construction tools.

“You kind of figured that there must be fencing operations happening in this town, but for it to happen at the gas station right around the corner is unbelievable,” said Ian Babcock with Take Back Santa Cruz.

Santa Cruz police said Chavez is a domestic partner of the business owner.

Officers searched their home in San Jose and seized nearly 20 mid to high-end bikes, jewelry and electronics that they believe were part of a larger theft and stolen property operation.

Police said so far they’ve recovered at least $10,000 dollars in stolen property.

“We don’t know exactly how often this happens but we’re tasked with finding that out,” said Blaschke. “We have a neighborhood enforcement team and that’s what they do.”

Community members are circulating an online petition and want the owners of the gas station to come forward and accept responsibility.

“They need to be prosecuted and this establishment closed down and maybe bought by somebody who has honest intentions with it,” said Dejong.

They also want the fence to come down which they believe made the operation possible.

We contacted the owner who said she would not comment.