Prolific Bike Thief Caught Who Targeted SMC Caltrain: Police

REDWOOD CITY, CA — Police said they caught a serial bicycle thief Wednesday who had targeted Caltrain, leading to 10 reported thefts.

Between May and August 2026, San Mateo County Sheriff's office deputies said they received 10 separate reports of bicycle thefts from Caltrain.

Using video provided by Caltrain from inside the train, deputies said they identified Jesus S. Molina-Barajas, 28, of East Palo Alto as the suspect.

Police arrested Molina-Barajas on September 2025 in connection with a previous bicycle theft.

On Monday police said they found Molina-Barajas at a hotel in Hayward, where he was taken into custody without incident.

Police said they arrested Molina-Barajas and booked him into the Maguire Correctional Facility on multiple counts of grand theft of personal property and petty theft.

Caltrain supports around 1.8 million bicycle trips each year, according to the transit agency, .