‘Tool Man’ arrested in San Jose retail theft bust

(KRON) – The Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office arrested a man they dubbed the “Tool Man” in an organized retail theft bust, the department announced.  

On Oct. 2, Santa Clara deputies executed search warrants at two locations in San Jose for an organized retail theft ring.

The searches uncovered almost $8,300 in stolen merchandise. According to the sheriff’s office, the first residence yielded a Dyson vacuum, a DEWALT generator and other various tools. 

At the second location, which was a storage facility, deputies found additional tools from Home Depot and Lowe’s Home Improvement. More than half a dozen alcohol bottles with Target security sensor caps and $5,475 in cash were also found. 

In images provided by the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office, police found hundreds of different tools. Deputies found a job site cart that was still price-tagged from Home Depot. 

The suspect was identified as San Jose resident Ruben Bocanegra. The Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office referred to the 63-year-old as the “Tool Man.”

Bocanegra was arrested and booked into the Santa Clara County Main Jail for a warrant and suspicion of the following charges:

• Possessing a controlled substance for sale
• Transporting a controlled substance
• Receive/etc known stolen property over $200
• Attempted receipt of stolen property