Local police nabbed four suspected thieves Feb. 6 in possession of $1,000’s worth of baby formula and other merchandise at two local Safeway grocery stores on E. Dunne and Tennant Avenues, according to a post on Morgan Hill Police Department’s Facebook page.
After being dispatched to the Tennant Avenue store Monday afternoon, Morgan Hill police then apprehended three female suspects and one male suspect as they attempted to flee in their vehicle onto U.S. 101, according to MHPD.
Officers stopped the car and learned that the male driver, Danthony Dandy, 21, of Oakland, was on Post Release Community Supervision, which police likened to parole but supervised by local probation department.
The three female passengers were identified as: Chyna Ashley, 19, of Vacaville; Khala Jones, 21, of Antioch; and Latoya Murray, 25, of Antioch.
Officers searched the vehicle and recovered $1,000s worth of merchandise, including baby formula, medications and toiletries from various stores, according to MHPD.
“The investigation revealed that both Safeway stores and at least one CVS had been hit by this crew,” the MHPD’s Feb. 6 post details. “Video surveillance footage showed the same three females hitting multiple stores.”
All four suspects were charged with burglary, conspiracy and grand theft, according to local authorities.
MHPD dispatchers learned from the Tennant Ave. store manager that the other Safeway on E. Dunne Ave had just been hit by three suspected thieves who targeted the baby formula aisle. He then told dispatchers that he had three suspects in the same aisle at his Dunne Ave. store.
“The suspects fled before police arrived but staff gave excellent descriptions as the women ran to a waiting car,” the MHPD post states.
“This was a carefully coordinated attempt to steal from the people of Morgan Hill and thanks to the great communication between the community and PD, they did not succeed,” MHPD continues. “Hopefully the message is getting around, Morgan Hill is not the place to come and commit crimes. We have a proactive police department and a vigilant community. That spells disaster for criminals.”
All four suspected thieves were booked into Santa Clara County Main Jail on multiple felony charges.
Anyone with information on this case, or any other victims, can contact us on (408) 779 2101 and reference case #17-0352.
