Man Fraudulently Cashed Stolen Milpitas' Business Checks: Police

MILPITAS, CA — A homeless man in the South Bay was arrested last week for allegedly breaking into a Milpitas business twice, stealing company checks and cashing them at a San Jose bank, according to authorities.

Joseph Magdi Gaballah, 41, was arrested Friday in San Jose, following an investigation into the purported check-theft fraud case logged in July and August, the Milpitas Police Department said.

Officials said a Milpitas company, located on the 300 block of South Abbott Avenue, reported two burglaries between July 30 and Aug. 19, where, during one, a suspect stole blank company checks.

The individual reportedly on July 31 cashed two of the stolen checks at San Jose banks, officials said. He was unsuccessful in his third attempt, however, as a bank employee was alerted that the check was stolen.

With physical evidence obtained during an investigation, Milpitas detectives from the Criminal Inv estigations Bureau and Special Investigations Unit zeroed in on Gaballah, arresting him without incident in San Jose.

Gaballah was booked into the Santa Clara County Main Jail for suspicion of burglary, three counts of forgery and check forgery and grand theft. He also faces charges for two unrelated felony arrest warrants for narcotics violations and auto theft totaling $50,000 in bail, and four misdemeanor arrest warrants for narcotics violations, police said.

Anyone with additional information can call Milpitas police at (408) 586-2400 or leave anonymous tips on the Crime Tip Hotline at (408) 586-2500.

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