Vista-area burglary suspects may be part of a roving crew
A trio of people involved in a home burglary in unincorporated Vista last week — a theft that included guns and silver bars — may be linked to other heists around the county, officials said Tuesday.
Authorities are hoping the public can help them identify the suspect, and San Diego Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information that leads to an arrest.
The three men arrived at a home on Monte Vista Drive, in the vicinity of Foothill Elementary, around 6 p.m. on May 16, according to a San Diego Crime Stoppers news release.
The burglars pulled up to the home roughly 20 minutes after the residents had stepped out.
The getaway driver parked down the road while the other two busted through a rear glass door and headed to the master bedroom, where they snatched a safe from the closet, according to Crime Stoppers.
The two thieves met up with the getaway vehicle — an SUV believed to be a black Hyundai Tucson with paper dealer plates — which had moved to driveway, loaded up the safe and took off, Crime Stoppers said.
The safe contained rifles, shotguns, and handguns, as well as jewelry, gold and silver coins and silver bars.
Officials said they suspect the men are linked to other burglaries, but did not disclose details of when or where those heists happened.
Crime Stoppers described the two men who went into the home as black men between the ages of 20 to 35 years old.
One was between 5 feet, 4 inches and 5 feet, 8 inches tall and weighing about 160 pounds. He wore a dark sweatshirt, tan camouflage pants, black shoes, black gloves and light blue bandana around his face.
The other was between 6 feet and 6 feet, 5 inches tall, and weighing around 260 pounds. He wore a black hoodie zip-up jacket, black pants, black and white gloves and black shoes.
The getaway driver was described as a black men between 20 to 25 years old. He was about 5 feet, 10 inches tall and weighed about 140 pounds. He wore red or orange pants with a long-sleeve shirt and red shoes.
Anyone with information about the men or the burglaries was asked to call the Vista Sheriff’s Station at (760) 940-4551, or the Crime Stoppers anonymous tip line at (888) 580-8477.
Visit sdcrimestoppers.org to learn how to send anonymous tips via email or text.
teri.figueroa@sduniontribune.com
(760) 529-4945
Twitter: @TeriFigueroaUT
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