82-Year-Old Kidnapped By Gang Member; Forced To Pay Culprit's Shopping Spree

Santa Ana police officers busted a guy who kidnapped an elderly man and detained him for several hours while forcing him to shell out cash, which he used to buy food, clothes, and alcohol. The victim revealed that he was about to participate in a Zoom meeting with members of his church when the burglar came in.

An Unexpected Intruder

Serio Magaña Arechiga, a 50-year-old gang member in California, was in the process of burglarizing a home in Santa Ana last June 9 when the elderly resident walked in, unaware there was a robbery taking place. The octogenarian was supposed to attend an online meeting at his home with fellow church members.

The burglar, apparently surprised by the sudden presence of the 82-year-old homeowner, immediately knocked the man to the floor and placed his forearm on the elderly’s neck to pin him down, police officers revealed. Arechiga also threatened to kill the wife of the octogenarian if he did not cooperate. The homeowner, who did not want to be identified, said that the robber told him he does not wish the victim any harm. “But if I didn’t do what he told me to do, he would harm my family,” the elderly man said.

Shopping Spree

Arechiga then reportedly forced the octogenarian into his own car and packed it with items stolen from the home. He also ordered the victim to withdraw cash from an ATM and then took him on a shopping spree, which lasted for several hours, the police said. A video released by police authorities shows the burglar and his victim inside a Warehouse Shoe Sale. The victim was seen paying for several clothing items while Arechiga, who wore a red bandana to cover his face, stood to wait.

As soon as the items they bought are bagged, the video shows Arechiga taking the items from the counter. Unknown to the robber; however, the victim used a type of card that sends alerts to his wife, causing family members to inform the authorities, KTLA reports. KTLA is a CW-affiliated television station in Los Angeles and is owned by Nexstar Media Group.

Hurried Whisper

The victim also said that he managed to signal the store’s security guard and let him know he is in danger. The octogenarian took the chance to whisper to the security personnel that he is being held up and that the guard should call the police. “He winked at me on the way out the door which to me said, he understood what I said.”

While the police did go to the store, by then both men are already gone. The son of the victim eventually tracked his whereabouts through his mobile phone, cops reported. Authorities later tracked down Arechiga and arrested him.