Convicted burglar accused in series of new burglaries

Convicted burglar accused in series of new burglaries

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WEST VALLEY CITY — A suspected serial burglar accused of targeting mainly Hispanic businesses is now facing a long list of criminal charges.

Aaron Alfaro Olmedo, 27, of West Valley City, was charged last week in 3rd District Court with 14 felonies and 12 misdemeanors. His charges include multiple counts of burglary, criminal mischief and engaging in a pattern of unlawful activity.

Prosecutors say Olmedo, a documented gang member, "was convicted of the same pattern of unlawful activity in 2013" and was still on parole from that case when the new charges were filed.

Starting Dec. 24, 2017, Olmedo has been busy breaking into numerous businesses, the charges state, including:

  • Dec. 24 — Rancho Market, 2470 S. Redwood Road
  • Jan. 23 — Victor's Tires, 1406 S. 700 West
  • Jan. 29 — El Dorado Seafood, 1906 W. 3500 South
  • Feb. 1 — Rancho Market, 4616 S. 4000 West
  • Feb. 5 — El Paisa Grill, 2126 S. 3200 West
  • Feb. 5 — Los Feliz Market, 3874 W. 3500 South
  • Feb. 5 — Dulces Mexicanas, 1950 S. 900 West
  • Feb. 8 — Julia's Mexican Restaurant, 51 S. 1000 West
  • Feb. 8 — Gonzalez Market, 1220 S. 1700 West
  • Feb. 8 — Victor's Tires, 3115 S. 3600 West

In nearly every case, Olmedo threw a rock through a window or glass door to gain entry into the business, and then used a crowbar to pry open cash registers, according to the charges. He is suspected of committing most of the burglaries with a second person. It was not known Tuesday if detectives had identified that person yet.

One of the businesses that Olmedo burglarized in 2013 was also a target in the new charges, court records state.

In 2014, Olmedo was sentenced to one to 15 years at the Utah State Prison on a conviction of engaging in a pattern of unlawful activity.

Prosecutors are asking that Olmedo be held without bail. The organized gang unit of the Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office has been assigned the case.

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Pat Reavy is a longtime police and courts reporter. He joined the KSL.com team in 2021, after many years of reporting at the Deseret News and KSL NewsRadio before that.

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