11 Suspects Arrested in Long Beach for Stealing 25 Home Repair Vans

Authorities in Long Beach have arrested 11 people suspected of stealing 25 work vans from plumbers, painters, landscapers and construction workers. Four other wanted suspects were identified by the Taskforce for Regional Autotheft Protection (TRAP).  

The arrests culminated a nine-month investigation into a ``criminal organization'' which would offload the tools and equipment, sell the stolen vans, and in some cases chop them up and sell them as scrap metal, according to Los Angeles Sheriff's Department Sgt. Rich Pena.

"A majority of the suspects were homeless and resided in central and north Long Beach. Eleven suspects were arrested and four are wanted by authorities," read a Sheriff's Dept. news announcement. It said the arrests were made June 13 but doesn't explain the time delay in disclosing the case for more than a month. 

Arrested were: 
Thomas Hernandez, Raymond Gonzales, Katia M. Alvarado, Mariano D. Lopez, Gerald Deegan, Shane Toseland, Tiffanie Ledesma, Edward McCrimmon, Michael Sartor, Grace Barrett, and Victor M. Vergara. 

Wanted are: Robert Madia, Adam Kim, Byran Godinez, and Willie Bartsman 

The arrests were made throughout Long Beach and South Los Angeles over the weekend, Pena said. The investigation by a task force consisting of personnel from the sheriff's department, California Highway Patrol and Long Beach and Los Angeles police departments resulted in 55 felony counts being filed by authorities against the 11 arrestees and four others, Pena said.

Photographs of four wanted suspects are attached. Here is the link to those who are in custody. Click here for a photo gallery of those arrested. 

--City News Service and Nancy Wride reported and wrote this story