Two Rancho Cucamonga Men Arrested for Guitar Center Thefts

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RANCHO CUCAMONGA – Deputies located over 30 guitars after searching the home of an accused guitar and speaker thief on Sunday.
At around 4:30 p.m. deputies from the Rancho Cucamonga station Victoria Gardens Theft Team, responded to a commercial burglary report at the Guitar Center located at 12479 Foothill Boulevard in Rancho Cucamonga. When they arrived they learned that employees recognized suspects involved in guitar thefts at the Riverside Guitar Center. Prior to the police arriving, one of the suspects stole a sound speaker and entered a vehicle driven by the other suspect.

Employees got the license plate of the vehicle and reported it to authorities when they arrived. Deputies located evidence linking both suspects, identified as Jason Poe, 38, and John Mahalak, 30, to the speaker theft. Deputies obtained a search warrant at the home of one of the suspects in the 11100 block of Shaw Street in the City of Rancho Cucamonga.

Later that day, at around 9:00 p.m., deputies executed the search warrant at Mahalaks home. Both Mahalak and Poe were located at the home and were arrested without incident. “During the subsequent search, deputies located over 30 guitars that included ukuleles, banjos, mandolins, Gibson Les Paul electric and acoustic guitars. Mahalak and Poe denied ownership of the guitars found,” Sheriff’s officials said. “Deputies believe the recovered guitars were stolen and are currently attempting the identify the victims associated with the guitars.”

Both Mahalak and Poe were booked into the West Valley Detention Center and are being held in lieu of $25,000. Both suspects were released from custody on Monday afternoon and have no appearances scheduled at this time.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to contact the Rancho Cucamonga Police Department at (909) 477-2800. Callers wishing to remain anonymous may contact the We-Tip Hotline at 1-800-78CRIME (27463), or you may leave information on the We-Tip website at www.wetip.com