Milpitas Temple Targeted In Rash Of South Bay Burglaries: DA

MILPITAS, CA — A San Jose man accused of stealing tens of thousands from South Bay churches and temples is being held on $1 million bail, according to prosecutors.

The Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office alleges Jaime Gutierrez Flores, 33, broke into at least eight institutions between December and February, culminating in his arrest at a San Jose church last weekend.

"Our schools, our homes, our places of worship, are special and sacred places, and when they are invaded by criminals it feels as though our whole community has been violated," District Attorney Jeff Rosen said in a statement. "Our office will hold this criminal, and anyone who acted with him, fully responsible to the law."

Prosecutors allege Flores and another man targeted a Hindu temple in Sunnyvale on three separate occasions, stealing more than $45,000 from donation boxes, including an incident where he steered a stolen car toward an officer as the pair fled in a stolen vehicle.

In early December, the DA's office alleges Flores and another suspect broke into a Santa Clara church and stole $1805 in property and $1,640 in cash. The next night, investigators said Flores and two other suspects forced through the glass door of a Milpitas temple and stole $6,000 from donation boxes.

He is also accused of burglarizing a San Jose church, along with multiple businesses around Sunnyvale, Santa Clara and San Jose. The DA's office said an investigation into the other suspects was ongoing, and there may be more burglaries connected to the case.

Flores was arraigned Wednesday at the Hall of Justice and held on $1 million bail. His next court date is March 22.