5 arrested for allegedly stealing cellphones

Police in San Francisco have arrested five suspects in connection the theft of thousands of dollars in cellphones and electronics from area stores.

Layne Bishop, 33, Duane Bishop, 36, William Owens, 36, Christian Bishop, 24 and Alvin Chambers, 32, all of Oakland, were arrested on suspicion of burglary, grand theft, conspiracy and possession of burglary tools, according to the San Francisco Police Department.

On Oct. 22, at 5:09 a.m., three suspects burglarized a cellphone store in the 200 block of West Portal Avenue.

The suspects stole a safe containing cellphones and electronics valued at more than $30,000 and fled the area in a vehicle, police said Police were able to identify one of the suspects, and on Nov. 3, conducted surveillance their vehicle.

Officers followed five suspects to a cellphone store in the 100 block of Pitt School Road in Dixon and observed the suspects force open the back door of the store and steal a safe containing $40,000 in cellphones, police said.

Officers, with assistance from the California Highway Patrol, followed a vehicle the suspects fled in and took three of the suspects into custody.

Other officers followed a second suspect vehicle and arrested the two other suspects.

On Nov. 11, officers conducted search warrants in Oakland and located approximately $105,500 in U.S. currency and various stolen cellphones and electronics valued at more than $25,000, police said.

Police said a sixth suspect is still outstanding.