The Securecare Self Storage on Mitchell Road has been anything but secure given that Ceres Police are seeking the public’s help following a series of burglaries targeting storage units there.
According to Ceres Police Department spokesman Sgt. Dirk Nieuwenhuis, approximately 60 units were compromised with the break-ins occurring after 10 p.m.
On May 14 police arrested three men in connection with burglaries at the facility and recovered goods stolen from three units. But according to Nieuwenhuis, police “can’t say they are responsible for more than the three burglaries at this time.”
The three arrests came at approximately 8:54 p.m. after someone called 9-1-1 about a suspected burglary taking place involving two suspicious men driving around the entire compound in a white pickup pulling a trailer and then parking and taking items out of storage units.
Officers found the truck whose driver attempted to leave but stopped. Occupying the pickup were driver James Sass, 43, of Waterford and the passenger Raymond Rosas, 44, of Empire. Both were caught with stolen items.
Police then found a second pickup and trailer belonging to Elmer Savage, 46, of Modesto who was allegedly in partnership with Rosas and Sass during the burglaries. Miscellaneous stolen items were found by police in Savage’s vehicle.
The stolen items were traced to three different storage units that had been entered.
Sass, Rosas and Savage were each arrested on charges of conspiracy to commit a crime, burglary and possession of stolen property.
Ceres Police made a post in social media asking any victims of burglaries at the storage facility to contact Ceres Officer Josiah Mardirosian (209) 538-5647 or visit our police department.
Persons with information may also provide tips anonymously, by phoning Stanislaus Area Crime Stoppers at 1-866-60-CRIME.
The department also encourages those with units at the location to make an inspection to see if items are missing or the unit is compromised.
The posting also noted that the public’s “cooperation is vital in helping us apprehend perpetrators and return property recovered in a recent apprehension.”
The posting was followed by a number of complaints about the security of the facility, including victims from the last couple of years.
“Our RV was broken into twice there,” posted Kristin Tiger. “We moved it two years ago. Then our storage unit was broken into twice in six months. Had to leave as not much was left. So frustrating because the management had been doing nothing and not even contacting owners when things were happening. The facility should be sued.”
