Deputies have arrested a suspect in a theft series in which bronze plaques were pried off the exterior walls of several libraries from 4S Ranch to Imperial Beach to East County, a sheriff’s official said Thursday.
About two weeks ago, the department shared surveillance images of a possible suspect in at least two of the thefts and asked for public help identifying the person. An anonymous tip through Crime Stoppers led sheriff’s deputies to identify a suspect, a 45-year-old El Cajon man, sheriff’s Sgt. Michael Mascarenas said in a news release.
The man was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of several counts of grand theft. He has since posted bail. It was not immediately clear when he is slated to return to court, where he could be arraigned should prosecutors elect to file a case.
Mascarenas said a search of the man’s home turned up “additional stolen plaques and other evidence related to the thefts.”
Among items found at the residence was a plaque that appears to have been taken from a city property in El Cajon, the sergeant said. Unlike the library plaques, it is not bronze, he said. None of the missing library plaques were found.
The first plaque disappeared from the Alpine library branch in late September, according to the sergeant. The Rancho San Diego branch was hit about two weeks later, on Oct.13.
The Imperial Beach branch lost its plaque — valued at roughly $4,500 — four days later. In that instance, officials said, surveillance video caught a person removing the plaque, placing it in the bed of a pickup truck and driving off. The person and the truck matched a person and truck caught on camera during the Rancho San Diego theft.
The Lemon Grove’s branch was hit next, followed in late October by a theft at the 4S Ranch branch.