Multi-thousand dollar cigarette, clothing thefts probed by Fresno County detectives

A series of burglaries costing merchants in the central San Joaquin Valley of multi-thousands of dollars are under investigation by detectives with the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office.

So far, two Fresnans have been arrested in the break-ins, which took place in Riverdale, Hanford, Kingsburg and Pismo Beach, according to sheriff’s spokesman Tony Botti.

They were identified as Adolph Matthew Coronado, 33, and his sister, Priscilla Garcia, 26. Botti also said an unidentified man is being sought.

Coronado was taken into custody Feb. 6 on felony burglary charges and bailed out two weeks later. Garcia also was booked on burglary charges and bailed out. Coronado was rearrested March 18, but was released three weeks later under conditions related to the state Judicial Council’s zero-bail rule because of the coronavirus pandemic.

On Jan. 7, thieves took an estimated $12,000 in tobacco products from a gas station at 3610 W. Mt. Whitney Avenue in Riverdale. On Feb. 6, $4,000 in similar products were taken from two gas stations in Kingsburg.

Detectives identified Coronado and the unidentified man as suspects, served warrants at three homes linked to Coronado and Garcia, and recovered tobacco products and $30,000 in clothes taken from a Feb. 2 burglary of a Ralph Lauren outlet store in Pismo Beach. That prompted the March 18 rearrest of Coronado.

Botti said detectives in Visalia and Hanford believe the suspects may be linked to commercial burglaries in those cities.

Anyone with information about the crimes is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 559-498-7867.

This story was originally published April 22, 2020 at 12:30 PM.