Santa Clara County Suspects Busted Trying to Sell Stolen iPads

SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CA -- Two people who allegedly tried to sell an iPad that was bought with a credit card that had been stolen from a car in Cupertino, were caught by Santa Clara County Sheriff's deputies.

The case began around 4 pm on May 3, when deputies assigned to the Sheriff's Office's West Valley Patrol Division responded to an apartment complex in Cupertino for a report of a vehicle burglary. The victim reported her credit card was stolen from her vehicle and was actively being used at a nearby Target.

The suspects, later identified as Tamara Garcia (38) and Athena Morales (34) both of San Jose, allegedly purchased iPads and gift cards using the victim’s credit card. Deputies obtained surveillance video that placed the suspects and their vehicle at the crime scene. With that information, deputies were able to track down the suspects’ identifying information.

Deputies began looking through websites that were known for selling stolen items and found a listing with the fraudulently purchased iPads. Deputies then contacted the seller and posed as an interested customer, according to the Sheriff's Office. They met the suspects at a nearby restaurant to buy the stolen iPads.

Garcia and Morales showed up with the stolen merchandise, along with additional items taken from the victim’s vehicle. Both were arrested on various charges, ranging from burglary, identity theft, drug possession and conspiracy.

"By working as a team," the Sheriff's Office said in a statement, "the deputies identified and arrested both suspects within an hour of the initial call."