SFPD Conducts Black Friday Auto Burglary and Armed Robbery Abatement Operation 21-211

The operation resulted in five felony arrests, three seized firearms (including two ghost guns), and evidence connecting the suspects to over a half-dozen auto burglaries.

On Friday, November 26, 2021, San Francisco Police officers were patrolling the area of Fulton and Lyon Streets as part of a citywide auto burglary and armed robbery abatement operation. At approximately 4:55 p.m., officers observed a white sedan actively casing multiple vehicles. Officers moved in and contained the vehicle as well as the two suspects that occupied the vehicle. Both suspects attempted to flee the scene, however, officers pursued them on foot, took them into custody, and placed them under arrest. The suspects were identified as 28-year-old Donnell Lee Mark of Vallejo, and a 15-year-old juvenile from San Francisco. Officers searched the suspect vehicle and located a fully operational “ghost gun” as well as personal belongings and several items of evidence linking them to numerous auto break-ins.

Mark was transported to San Francisco County Jail and booked on charges of second-degree burglary (459(a) PC), receiving stolen property (496(a) PC), and possession of burglary tools (466 PC), resisting arrest (148(a)(1) PC), conspiracy (182(a)(1) PC), possession of an assault weapon in California (30605(a) PC), felon in possession of a firearm (29800(a)(1) PC), parole violation (3056 PC), transportation of a machine gun (32625(a) PC), carrying a concealed firearm in a vehicle (25400(a)(1) PC), carrying a loaded firearm in public (25850(a) PC), armed in the commission of a felony (12022(a)(1) PC), privately manufactured handgun (29180(g) PC), and resisting arrest (148(a)(1) PC).

The juvenile was transported to the Juvenile Justice Center and booked on charges of: seconddegree burglary (459(a) PC), receiving stolen property (496(a) PC), and possession of burglary tools (466 PC), resisting arrest (148(a)(1) PC), conspiracy (182(a)(1) PC), possession of an assault weapon in California (30605(a) PC), felon in possession of a firearm (29800(a)(1) PC), minor in possession of a firearm (29610 PC), minor in possession of live ammunition (29650 PC), transportation of a machine gun (32625(a) PC), privately manufactured handgun (29180(g) PC), carrying a concealed firearm in a vehicle (25400(a)(1) PC), carrying a loaded firearm in public (25850(a) PC), resisting arrest (148(a)(1) PC), armed in the commission of a felony (12022(a)(1) PC), and misuse of vehicle registration (4462.5 CVC).

Later that evening, in a second and unrelated incident, San Francisco Police officers were in the area of Bay and Kearny Streets as part of the citywide auto burglary and armed robbery abatement operation. At approximately 6:54 p.m., officers observed a white sedan actively casing vehicles in a nearby parking lot. Officers recognized the vehicle as the same vehicle wanted in connection with several auto-burglaries and at least one armed robbery in San Francisco.

The vehicle stopped in the parking lot and three suspects exited. Officers approached the suspects who got back into the car and began to flee the scene. The vehicle turned south on The Embarcadero. Officers successfully deployed spike strips in the roadway, puncturing all four of the suspect vehicle tires. The suspects continued to flee and led police on a chase to Interstate 280 and back onto city streets before ending in the area of 3 rd Street and Evans Avenue. During the pursuit, the suspect vehicle struck a number of other vehicles. One occupant of one of the victim vehicles reported suffering non-life-threatening injuries.

At the termination point of the pursuit, all three suspects exited the vehicle and attempted to flee on foot. Officers pursued each suspect and took them into custody without further incident. The suspects were identified as 23-year-old Elijah Ifopo of San Francisco, 24-year-old Ajay Balaoro of San Francisco, and 21-year-old Caleb Tuimavave of Daly City. While fleeing from officers, Ifopo discarded a loaded firearm with an extended magazine that was later located and secured by officers. Officers also located a loaded firearm with an extended magazine in Balaoro’s waistband after he was taken into custody. Officers subsequently searched the suspect vehicle and located personal belongings and several items of evidence linking them to numerous auto break-ins.

While taking one of the suspects into custody, one officer sustained minor injuries and was treated at the scene.

Ifopo, Tuimavave, and Balaoro, were transported later transported to San Francisco County Jail and booked on the below-listed charges.

Ifopo was booked on charges of; felon in possession of a firearm (29900(a)(1) PC), carrying a concealed firearm in a vehicle (25400(a)(1) PC), carrying a loaded firearm in public (25850(a) PC), possession of a large-capacity magazine (32310(a) PC), resisting arrest (148(a)(1) PC), conspiracy (182(a)(1) PC), second-degree burglary (459(a) PC), receiving stolen property (496(a) PC), and possession of burglary tools (466 PC).

Tuimavave was booked on charges of; second-degree burglary (459(a) PC), receiving stolen property (496(a) PC), and possession of burglary tools (466 PC), resisting arrest (148(a)(1) PC), conspiracy (182(a)(1) PC), vehicle registration fraud (4463(a) CVC), felony hit and run (20001(a) CVC), felony reckless evading (2800.2(a) CVC), and hit and run (20002(a) CVC).

Balaoro was booked on charges of; second-degree burglary (459(a) PC), receiving stolen property (496(a) PC), and possession of burglary tools (466 PC), resisting arrest (148(a)(1) PC), conspiracy (182(a)(1) PC), carrying a concealed firearm in a vehicle (25400(a)(1) PC), carrying a loaded firearm in public (25850(a) PC), and possession of a large-capacity magazine (32310(a) PC).

Photos of the suspect vehicles and the recovered firearms accompany this news release.

While arrests have been made this remains an open investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call the SFPD Tip Line at 1-415-575-4444 or Text a Tip to TIP411 and begin the text message with SFPD. You may remain anonymous..