Full Notification

DATE/TIME: September 26, 2016, at approximately 10:20 AM

INCIDENT: PC487(a), Grand Theft and PC 496(a), Possession of Known Stolen Property


LOCATION: 1659 N Cajon Boulevard, San Bernardino

SUSPECT(S): Gregory Stires, 51-year-old male, Transient
Sean Detomaso, 48-year-old male, resident of Fontana


VICTIM(S): T-Mobile, USA


SUMMARY: On Thursday, September 22, 2016, at about 6:30 AM, T-Mobile cell phone tower site batteries were stolen. The batteries stolen are used to support the sites with power in cases of emergencies. When the cell tower sites are not supported by back-up batteries, this can interrupt cell phone service and affect a person's ability to request emergency assistance. Over the past year, cell tower sites from various companies providing service throughout San Bernardino County, to include the high desert, have experienced an increase of battery thefts. The thefts have resulted in a loss of over $50,000.

Detectives assigned to the Sheriff's Central Station conducted a follow-up, in the city of Bloomington, related to the most recent theft. During the follow-up, Stires and Detomaso arrived to the location and were found to have suspected stolen batteries in their vehicles. Stires and Detomaso were identified and found to have warrants issued for their arrest. Both suspects were taken into custody without incident. Evidence was obtained implicating both Stires and Detomaso in the theft of the batteries from the T-Mobile cell tower sites and are suspected of being involved in some of the previous reported thefts. Stires was also found to have a "homemade" manufactured tool to open the storage units to the batteries.

During the investigation, it was discovered that Stires was in violation of the terms of his PRCS release for Possession of Known Stolen Property charges out of San Bernardino County, as a result of California Assembly Bill 109.

As part of Governor Jerry Brown's Realignment Plan, or Assembly Bill 109, to comply with a U.S. Supreme Court Decision requiring the state to lower its prison population; offenders with non-violent, non-sexual and non-serious convictions will serve reduced sentences in county jails and be placed on local supervision

Anyone with information regarding this investigation is urged to contact the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department. Callers wishing to remain anonymous are urged to call the We-tip Hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME (27463) or you may leave information on the We-Tip Hotline at www.wetip.com.

Refer: Detective Division
Detectives Marshall and Lara

Station: Central Station

Phone No. (909) 387-3545

Case No. 011604196

JOHN McMAHON, Sheriff-Coroner
San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner Department