Amazon Driver Turns Out To Be A Prime Target; Suspect Arrested After Hijacking Van

Those Amazon delivery people handle all kinds of goods in the course of their day and two local men apparently thought it might be worth their while to drive off with one of their vans.

California CHP investigators say at about 1:20 p.m. on July 11 a delivery man was going about his business, exiting his Ram 1500 work van during a stop in the El Sobrante area to check on an open door.

Police said a man later identified as Charles Farmer, 48, suddenly jumped into the driver’s seat and made off with the van – driving to an area in El Sobrante where the vehicle was tucked behind some freight containers. According to the CHP, Farmer rendezvoused with a second man, identified as Steve Ackelbein, and used Ackelbein’s Chevrolet Silverado to offload 71 packages from the Amazon Ram to the Chevrolet. After doing so, police said, the pair drove to a local residence with the pilfered packages.

Investigators tracked the pair and executed a search warrant at the El Sobrante address at 5:55 p.m. on July 12, arresting Ackelbein on charges including conspiracy, possession of stolen property and cargo theft at that time. Unfortunately, police said, they were only able to recover one of the 71 missing packages.

Investigators said Farmer remains at large and is being sought in connection with this crime, with additional charges of carjacking for making off with the Ram 1500.

If you have any information regarding this incident, the missing 70 packages, or the location of Charles Farmer, please contact Contra Costa CHP in Martinez (925) 646-4980.