Suspected Package Thief Arrested

A man suspected of stealing a package from the front porch of a home last month was arrested Wednesday evening thanks to the public’s help. 

On Tuesday, Fremont police released home surveillance footage of the June 13 incident and a photo of suspect Refugio Aldama, a 27-year-old transient.

According to the Fremont Police Department, the package — which contained two toys ordered from Amazon — was delivered successfully at 11: 40 a.m. on the 48800 block of Semillon Drive. However, when the homeowner arrived at 1:30 p.m., the package was gone.

Privately owned surveillance cameras captured footage of the theft. One video showed a black BMW with a license plat of 5JEA174 enter the neighborhood; another camera captured the suspect exit the BMW and take the package.

Authorities compared footage of the suspect with a photograph of the registered owner of the BMW to identify Aldama as the suspect. A warrant was subsequently issued for Aldama’s arrest.

On Wednesday, a citizen called in a tip to the Fremont Police Department advising authorities on Aldama’s whereabouts.

Police were able to locate Aldama at the Milpitas landfill at about 5 p.m. and arrested him on suspicion of theft.

Anyone with information about the theft is asked to call Fremont police at 510-790-6800. Anonymous tips may also be left at www.fremontpolice.org/tip or by texting TIP FREMONTPD to 888777 with your message.