Firearms, Drugs Recovered In Bay Area Theft Crew Bust

SAN MATEO, CA — An alert retail figured prominently in the arrest of an alleged theft crew found to be in possession of narcotics and firearms Saturday afternoon, the San Mateo Police Department said.

The employee alerted officers patrolling the Ross store at 640 Concar Rd. of a theft in progress at the store at around 4:45 p.m., police said.

Additional officers were summoned to saturate the area and all four suspects were arrested as they approached the getaway vehicle, police said.

A review of security footage and confirmed the theft occurred, police said.

They getaway vehicle was related to numerous Bay Area retail thefts, police said.

Three suspects have extensive criminal histories and a fourth suspect, a 12-year-old female, is a ward of the court out of San Francisco for juvenile human trafficking, police said.

A search of the suspects and the getaway vehicle revealed a ghost gun (non-serialized firearm), ammunition, burglary tools, suspected fentanyl, narcotic paraphernalia, additional narcotics, and stolen merchandise, police said.

One suspect was booked at San Mateo County Jail, two were released by citation in compliance with jail COVID-19 protocol, and the juvenile was transported to San Francisco County Child Protective Services.

Christopher Marc Wise, 31 of Hayward, was arrested on suspicion of being a felon in possession of a firearm, possession of narcotic controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia

Jeremiah Witherspoon, 24 of San Francisco, was arrested on suspicion of shoplifting less than $950, possession of a narcotic controlled substance and conspiracy to commit crime.

Dontrice Ahjanae Thompson, 27 of San Francisco, was arrested on suspicion of a theft warrant.