Oakley Police Nab Four Suspects For Organized Retail Theft

The Oakley Police Department announced the arrest of four individuals in connection with a burglary at Raley’s in the City of Oakley and Safeway in Brentwood.

Here is what was released by Oakley Police Chief Paul Beard:

On January 11, 2023 at 8:46PM our swing shift patrol crew, consisting of: Sergeant B. Foreman, Officer B. Jackson, Officer R. County and Officer R. Hernandez were dispatched to a report of three suspicious young men inside Raleys pushing carts full of beer and laundry detergent.

It appeared to store staff as if the men were posturing themselves to steal the merchandise. As our officers were on their way to the scene they were advised the men had just exited the back door and loaded the stolen merchandise into the back of a black Ford F150 that was waiting for them, the store staff was also able to provide a license plate for the vehicle.

A citizen that witnessed the theft followed the Ford truck to the area of Walnut Meadows at Freemark Ln. where they lost sight of it. The Contra Costa County Sheriff STARR1 helicopter was overhead and in the area and located the vehicle near Vintage Parkway at Big Break. Officers Hernandez and Jackson were in the area and initiated a traffic stop as they could see beer and laundry detergent in the back of the truck.

Four men were inside the truck and detained. An identification process was conducted and three of the men were identified as the same men who stole the merchandise. Several bottles of unopened alcohol from a Safeway store in the City of Brentwood were also recovered and are believed to also be stolen.

“This was a coordinated and planned criminal act and a crime that has become all too commonplace in our society. Retail theft only serves to hurt businesses and hard working customers alike. Mass organized efforts, like the one we encountered last night, hurts that much more. I urge everybody to pay attention to the power of their vote and to pay special attention to laws and legislative efforts that take a softened stance on crime. We cannot expect criminals to be held appropriately accountable if laws and legislative efforts keep getting passed that take tools away from law enforcement agencies, prosecutorial bodies and the judicial system as a whole. With the softer laws and tools we currently have criminal recidivism is allowed to occur at a much higher rate. Criminal recidivism equates to more crime being committed against hard working victims.

Once again I stand proud of the men and women of the Oakley Police Department to take the role of enforcing laws seriously and steadily doing their jobs as they serve our community. I also appreciate the assistance that was given to us by the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff.

All four suspects were arrested last night and all four of them were booked into jail. I am identifying the four suspects as:

• Renaldy Mendieta, 44, Antioch- arrested for Organized Retail Theft, Conspiracy and Possession of illegal drugs (Mendieta was also the getaway driver)
• Justin Snyder, 18, Discovery Bay- arrested for Organized Retail Theft and Conspiracy
• Lawrence Domina, 22, Clayton- arrested for Organized Retail Theft and Conspiracy
• Justin Dornenburg, 20, Concord- arrested for Organized Retail Theft and Conspiracy

The confirmed stolen property was worth over $1,000.00 and it was returned to Raleys. The suspected stolen alcohol was also determined to be worth over $1,000.00.”