Oakdale Police arrested two local subjects for a weekend burglary that occurred at Medlen’s House of Beef where the restaurant’s safe and between $4,000 to $5,000 was taken in an overnight break-in.

Oakdale Police Detective Sergeant Joe Johnson said police responded to a report of the break-in on Saturday morning, shortly after 7 a.m. when the incident was called in by employees.

A review of the surveillance footage showed that at 4:12 a.m. a male figure forced his way into the restaurant through the front doors and headed directly to the establishment’s back office where a safe was located. The suspect attempted to remove the safe from its mountings but was unable and left the building.

Sergeant Johnson said the suspect returned a few minutes later with a female accomplice and the two used a pry bar to dislodge the safe and carry it away.

While investigating the incident, the detectives’ attention was turned to the female suspect who was identified by employees on the video footage as Shelby Spears, 23, of Oakdale who worked at the restaurant as a server.

Detectives obtained a warrant for Spear’s arrest for the burglary and on Tuesday, Aug. 25 arrested her at her residence.

While she was in custody, her boyfriend, Jose Israel Ortiz, 24, also of Oakdale, came to the police station to inquire about Spears. Detectives recognized Ortiz as the male suspect from the surveillance footage and arrested Ortiz at that time.

Detective Johnson said despite the video footage being shown to the suspects, both Ortiz and Spears are denying involvement in the burglary.

Both Spears and Ortiz were booked at Stanislaus County Jail for felony burglary and conspiracy later that day.

The incident is still under investigation for the recovery of the loss and any potential evidence.

Anyone with information about this case is urged to call Detective Aaron Beatty at (209) 847-2231.