Overview of the Incident

Federal authorities have apprehended a man from Santa Ana, Guadalupe Blanco, who is alleged to have stolen over $200,000 worth of military gear, including two Humvees, from the U.S. Army Reserve Center located at 15992 Red Hill Avenue in Tustin, California. The theft reportedly occurred in January.

Allegations and Collaboration

Blanco is accused of conspiring with an Army Reservist, identified as Albert Reyes from Orange. Communication between the two individuals, as outlined by legal documents, suggests they deliberated on the stolen vehicles’ whereabouts shortly after the heist. Reyes allegedly remarked, “This is gonna be a stolen military vehicle,” and inquired of Blanco, “Can you hide it?”

Recovery of Stolen Equipment

In the wake of the burglary, law enforcement officials successfully recovered two Humvees. One was discovered in a church parking lot in Orange, while the other was found parked on a street in Santa Ana. Furthermore, a Humvee linked to Reyes was reportedly seen at his residence, where several individuals were seen unloading military gear.

Equipment Recovered

In addition to the vehicles, authorities also confiscated various military items, including:

• Smoke grenades
• Artillery rounds
• Military uniforms
• Machine gun mounts
• Bayonets

Legal Proceedings

While Reyes has been released on bond, he is scheduled to appear in court in April to face the charges related to the theft. The Army declined to release comments regarding the ongoing case when contacted by sources, including Court Watch.