Hayward Man Enters No Contest Plea in Jewelry Thefts

A Hayward man facing multiple burglary and theft charges in connection with a series of attempted jewelry and cigarette thefts in San Mateo and Redwood City took a plea deal on Monday just as his trial began, San Mateo County prosecutors said.

Dale Lionel Mark, 55, pleaded no contest to one count of burglary and one count of grand theft and admitted to nine prior convictions on the condition that he serves no more than nine years in county jail, according to the district attorney’s office.

Mark had initially been charged with two counts of burglary, grand theft, destruction of property and an enhancement for committing a crime while out on bail, among other offenses. Prosecutors had asked for an 11-year sentence in the case.

Mark was set to be tried Monday on three separate incidents occurring in December 2014, which were consolidated for trial, according to prosecutors.

The first arrest occurred on Dec. 1, 2014, when Mark was allegedly seen entering the Macy’s department store at the Hillsdale Shopping Center in San Mateo and using a tool to cut a cord on a jewelry case before leaving the store. An accomplice was allegedly waiting to pick up the case, which contained $31,000 in jewelry, prosecutors said. Mark was arrested outside the store.

Then on Dec. 22, 2014, Mark allegedly returned to the same shopping center, entered the Sears store there, took a pair of wire cutters from the hardware department and again cut a cord on a jewelry case in the store, prosecutors said. He allegedly picked up the jewelry case himself, which contained $13,000 in jewelry, and placed it in a shopping cart before walking out of the store with it. He was again arrested outside the store, according to the district attorney’s office.

Then on Dec. 31, Mark allegedly entered a Safeway store on El Camino Real in Redwood City, stole three cartons of cigarettes and gave them to a female accomplice, who fled the store, prosecutors said.

Mark remains in custody and is now scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 25.

By Bay City News

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