By Gina Yarbrough
Escondido, CA–A man was arrested in early February on suspicion of burglarizing multiple businesses and selling the stolen items on online marketplaces, authorities said.
The suspect was identified as 38-year-old David Martinez, of San Diego. He was charged with receiving stolen property and conspiracy and booked into Vista Detention Facility.
In early November, Industrial Liquidation Plus was burglarized with approximately $60,000 in tools, including a concrete tamper, according to the Escondido Police Department.
An Escondido Police detective assigned to the case discovered a man selling the stolen concrete tamper on OfferUp. Through further investigation, the detective learned the same man may have sold hundreds of tools from new, like new, or in the original packaging on OfferUp and Facebook Marketplace.
Two detectives partnered with Organized Retail Crime investigators from Home Depot, Lowes, and the California High Patrol task force to help with the case. Through the investigation, authorities discovered that the man had been selling other known stolen tools.
On February 2, detectives were able to contact the man through OfferUp and set up a time to meet him. He was arrested when he arrived with the stolen concrete tamper from the Industrial Liquidation Plus burglary.
Escondido police obtained a search warrant for two locations tied to the suspect. Detectives, along with Organized Retail Crime investigators, located over 230 stolen items from Home Depot, totaling over $50,000 in merchandise.
The incident is under investigation.
Anyone with information on the incident is urged to contact Detective Martinez at (760) 839-4739.
