Stolen Office Equipment, Clothing Seized; Machine Technician Jailed

Police made one of the largest seizures of stolen property in the city’s history Wednesday, arresting a 32-year-old office machine technician on suspicion of theft and probation violation.

“He had a ton of stuff,” Sgt. Dwight Henninger said, including $150,000 to $250,000 in office equipment from his employer, Pitney Bowes, and about $100,000 in department store clothing.

Henninger, who said he did not know why Al Vu Nguyen was on probation, said the seized material filled a large rental truck. One of the seizures took place at a privately run halfway house for offenders in the 14000 block of Brennan Way in Santa Ana, where Nguyen was living, police said. Other seizures took place at residences and storage units in Ontario and elsewhere in Santa Ana.

Henninger said that the machinery seized from Pitney Bowes, which makes mailing and folding machines, was enough for someone “to set up his own distributorship.”

Because some of the equipment would take at least two people to move, Henninger said, “we’re sure there were other people involved.”

Police said they think Nguyen shoplifted most of the clothing, including hundreds of ties, shoes, shirts and jackets, most of which still had bar code tags attached. Some of the clothing had Robinson’s labels, and most were folded in more than 70 boxes.

“It looks like he was a very neat guy,” Henninger said. “Everything was really organized.”

Nguyen was being held without bail Thursday at Orange County Jail.

Police ask that anyone with additional information contact Detective Rob Turner at (714) 724-7180.