California gang member abducted 82-year-old from his home for shopping spree, police say

close

Video

Fox News Flash top headlines for June 17

Fox News Flash top headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com.

A California gang member with a criminal record spanning more than three decades is in custody again Wednesday after abducting an 82-year-old so he could be taken on a shopping spree, police say.

Sergio Magaña Arechiga, 50, is now facing numerous felony charges -- including kidnapping for ransom/extortion -- following the June 9 incident in Santa Ana.

The city’s police department told Fox 11 that it began when the victim walked in while Arechiga was burglarizing his home. He was choked and threatened that his wife would be killed if he didn’t cooperate, police said. The victim, thinking his wife was home, then got into his car with Arechiga, according to Santa Ana Police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna.

"First, he took him to an ATM and got the max, $300, out and then took him to a liquor store where he wanted to buy beer," Bertagna said. "Then he took him to a hotel where the guy used a credit card to get a room and then got him back into the car to take him to a burger stand, where he bought three meals and then they went to a clothing and shoe store where he got a bunch of clothes and shoes."

MAN ACCUSED OF SHOVING 92-YEAR-OLD NYC WOMAN HAS BEEN ARRESTED MORE THAN 100 TIMES 

Surveillance video released by police showed Arechiga standing next to the victim inside one store while the man used his credit card to buy a pile of clothing.

Investigators eventually were contacted by the victim’s family after they “received alerts about unusual activity on the victim’s credit card.”

Then “the victim’s son tracked his location via his cell phone and located the victim sitting in the passenger seat of his vehicle," Santa Ana Police said in a statement.

"So he went and found his father and while the crook had gone into another store the son calls us and the suspect splits," Bertagna told Fox 11.

Sergio Magana Arechiga has had a history of arrests, police say. (Santa Ana Police Department)

Arechiga was arrested three days later inside the home of one of his own family members after police responded to a domestic disturbance call and recognized him as the suspect wanted in the shopping spree, police say.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Bertagna told Fox 11 that while Arechiga was being arrested, he still was in possession of the victim’s credit card.

Arechiga is now being held at $1,300,000 bail and is set to be arraigned July 14. Police said he is a “documented Santa Ana gang member” and his past arrests include robbery and assault on a peace officer.