West Valley man arrested in potentially hundreds of Salt Lake County burglaries

WEST VALLEY CITY — Police have arrested a man who they say is the leader of a group responsible for numerous storage facility, garage and vehicle burglaries across the Salt Lake Valley — possibly hundreds.

Luis Fernando Sanchez, 27, of West Valley City, was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on Wednesday for investigation of engaging in a pattern of unlawful activity, burglary of a dwelling, 24 counts of burglary, four counts of vehicle burglary, and possession of a weapon by a restricted person.

“Over the past several months, numerous storage facilities have been burglarized at locations in our city and in other jurisdictions,” West Valley police said in a statement.

“A large amount of stolen property, including one firearm was recovered inside the home,” police said in the statement. “Based on information gathered and the evidence recovered, it was discovered that this group has committed hundreds of open garage door residential burglaries, vehicle burglaries and public storage burglaries in the nighttime hours across Salt Lake County over the past few months.”

The group told police that they would conduct the burglaries in pairs, according to a police affidavit.

Police say the investigation is ongoing and additional arrests are expected.

Sanchez was charged with theft, vehicle burglary and two counts of theft by deception in June, and misdemeanor theft in September, according to court records.