Crime & Safety

Moraga Police Make Their Case Against Alleged Power Tool Pilferer

Some crackerjack police work results in additional counts against an Oakland man who visited Moraga just once too often.

Moraga Police Chief Bob Priebe Tuesday credited one of his officers with making a case against an Oakland man who allegedly stole power tools from the Orchard Supply Hardware in town -- and a few other places, as well.

Priebe said Officer Will Davis developed information which led to a search warrant allegedly connecting Oakland deliveryman John Stoeff, Jr., 28, with items taken during a series of commercial burglaries starting in August and ending with his arrest in Moraga in October, 2011.

"When the warrant was served, evidence linked to 14 cases was located," Priebe said. "The cases were from Foster City, El Cerrito, Millbrae, Berkeley, Redwood City, and Moraga."

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Five felony burglary counts were filed against Stoeff by the County District Attorney's Office, Priebe said.

Employees at the Moraga store said a man was visiting the store on a fairly regular basis and was suspected of making off with numerous powered items without paying for them.

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The man, later identified as Stoeff, returned to the store once again in October  and was immediately recognized by store personnel. Moraga police officers intercepted him after he exited an emergency door with more than $600 worth of stolen tools in his hands.

"Needless to say, I was very pleased with the fine investigative effort," Priebe said Tuesday.


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