Anaheim man sentenced for Daly City grocery store wallet snatching targeting elderly shopper

Ronald Bernal-Pacheco was sentenced for a wallet theft at a Daly City Sprouts, while three accomplices remain at large after a $5,000 fraud spree.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 26, 2026, 6:30 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Hoodline

Targeted Theft in a Busy Retail Corridor

A routine visit to a Daly City grocery store ended in a significant financial loss for a 74 year old shopper on June 1, 2025. According to the San Mateo County District Attorney’s office, the victim was targeted inside the Sprouts Farmers Market located on Gellert Boulevard. Investigators allege that Ronald Bernal-Pacheco and three other individuals worked in coordination to distract the woman, allowing Bernal-Pacheco to steal her wallet from her person. The incident took place in the heart of a dense commercial district, providing the suspects with immediate access to several high traffic retail locations to utilize the stolen financial cards.

Rapid Fraudulent Activity and Retail Tracking

Following the initial theft, the group allegedly moved quickly to exploit the victim’s credit and debit cards. Authorities report that $1,000 in cash was withdrawn from a nearby ATM shortly after the wallet was taken. The suspects then moved to a Best Buy location within the same shopping center and a second location nearby, where they successfully charged $4,818.36 in merchandise before the victim or her financial institutions could flag the activity. The proximity of the stores in the Serramonte and Gellert shopping area allowed the group to complete these transactions within a very short timeframe.

Legal Proceedings and Sentencing Details

Ronald Bernal-Pacheco, a resident of Anaheim, recently pleaded no contest to felony theft and elder abuse charges. A judge sentenced him to five months in county jail; however, with credit for 128 days already served, his remaining time in custody is minimal. In addition to the jail term, Bernal-Pacheco was placed on two years of supervised probation and ordered to pay $200 in restitution to the victim. As part of his sentencing conditions, he has been issued a formal stay-away order prohibiting him from entering the Daly City Best Buy where the fraudulent purchases were made.