Stolen Humvees, Machine Guns, and Bayonets: Arrests in Army Theft Spree

Authorities have arrested a California man who is accused of stealing three Army Humvees, multiple bayonets, Army uniforms, and right machine gun mounts from an Army Reserve storage facility. Law enforcement tracked one of the stolen military vehicles after a tip revealed that it was parked outside a Baptist church. Another Humvee was found parked in the driveway of a house in Orange, California. Charging documents say Guadalupe Blanco worked with another man, Alfredo Reyes, to coordinate the brazen break-in.

According to charging documents, late in the evening of January 8th, there were multiple failed attempts to enter the Army Reserve facility with an incorrect pin until the intruders were ultimately successful. The Army facility manager told authorities that the “correct pin code used was assigned to him, and that he has provided the pin code to others in the past.”

A criminal complaint filed in the Central District of California states that U.S. Army personnel told police in addition to the three Humvees, “Army tactical gear, Army uniforms, machine gun mounts, medical gear, binoculars, and bayonets” were taken. The military estimated the value of the stolen property to be more than $200,000.

The next day, a neighbor called local police after seeing four men unload a military truck, telling officers he was “pretty sure” the vehicle was a Humvee, according to court records. Police also reviewed a neighbor’s Ring doorbell footage, purportedly showing a Humvee parked in a driveway next to a car with the same make and model as the one involved in the burglary.

A fish and game warden alerted law enforcement that another Humvee was parked near the First Baptist Church in Orange, California, the filings show. It was recovered on January 10th. 

Six days later, police arrested Alfredo Reyes on state charges of burglary and grand theft auto related to the heist. Reyes, an Army Reserve Staff Sergeant, worked as a civilian employee at Joint Training Base Los Alamitos. Last week, he was also charged federally for theft of government property. The federal charges against Blanco and Reyes have not previously been reported. A review of Reyes’ electronics revealed that he allegedly coordinated with Blanco to plan the burglary. 

Texts included in the criminal complaint shed light on how the purported Humvee heist came to fruition, with Reyes asking Blanco, “If you have space we can do it. But.... This is gonna be a stolen military vehicle. Can you hide it?” Blanco reportedly responded with a raised-eyebrow emoji. When Reyes asked, “Wanna pick up one tomorrow?” Blanco allegedly responded with a gif of Homer Simpson disappearing into a bush. 

According to court records, the pair picked out a green Humvee to steal, with Reyes complaining “100 blind spots and they suck to drive,” “I'll cruise by your pad with one. Next week. You can try it yourself.”

Law enforcement says the two followed through on the plan three months later when they texted about obtaining bolt cutters that same day. On January 10th, Reyes allegedly texted, “Just saw a hmmwv [humvee] driving past me on the street,” with a laughing crying emoji. Blanco reportedly responded, “wtf,” then Reyes allegedly said, “Yep. So one recovered.”

A public affairs official with the U.S. Army Reserve told Court Watch that “as a matter of policy, the Army Reserve does not comment on ongoing litigation.” The U.S. Attorney’s office for the Central District of California did not respond to an early Wednesday morning media inquiry, nor did Blanco’s lawyer. 

Blanco was released on bond, with restrictions on travel and possession of firearms. He has a preliminary hearing set for early April.

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