Walmart burglary suspects arrested

Provided.

On Thursday, Feb. 8, detectives and officers with the Tehachapi Police Department served a search warrant in the 1700 block of Orange Street in the city of Bakersfield for stolen property.

During a month's long investigation, investigators identified two Bakersfield residents, 30-year-old Arel Sonny Martinez and Amanda Nicole Mendez, as suspects. Both suspects targeted Walmart locations to steal jewelry, video gaming and electronics equipment. Nearly $15,000 in merchandise was stolen from several Walmart locations in Kern County, including locations in Bakersfield, Delano and Tehachapi.

During a search of the residence of Martinez and Mendez, investigators located several items of jewelry, gaming and electronics equipment which linked them to thefts from Walmart locations in Tehachapi and Kern County. Investigators also discovered evidence the suspects were pawning the stolen items for cash or selling the stolen items on social media sites.

Martinez and Mendez were arrested for multiple theft related charges including burglary, grand theft, conspiracy, possession of stolen property, possession of burglary tools and possession of methamphetamine paraphernalia. Both suspects were booked into the Kern County Jail without incident.

The Tehachapi Police Department is committed to identifying and apprehending suspects who target and steal from businesses in the City of Tehachapi.

If you have any additional information, please contact the Tehachapi Police Department at (661) 822-2222.