Two Arrested In Undercover Craigslist Sting

Detectives arrested two suspects in a home burglary after one of them listed some of the missing property on Craigslist.

On September 29, a resident of the 200 block of Eaton Way reported that someone had broken in and taken property while he was out of town, Sgt. Art Wager said. β€œHigh value speakers, stereo equipment, electronics, and musical instruments were stolen.”
 
Later, the resident contacted a detective and said some of the property appeared to be for sale on the Internet site Craigslist.com.
 
Detectives set up a sting, arranging to buy a pair of speakers, Wager said.
 
On Friday, detectives met Michael Parris, 29, of Oceanside in the parking lot of Walmart on University Drive in Vista. Detectives determined the speakers belonged to the victim and arrested Parris on the spot.
 
Further investigation led to the seizure of other property from the burglary, Wager said.
 
β€œThe suspect who was taken into custody received text messages from an apparent accomplice,” Wager said. Those text messages linked Parris to Bart Barvarella, 26, of Vista to the crime.
 
Barvarella, who lives two doors down to the victim, was arrested Friday, the sergeant said.
 
Both suspects are being held at the Vista Jail on charges of burglary, conspiracy and possession of stolen property.
 
Neighbors said the victim moved out of his apartment shortly after the crime. Ironically, Barvarella was arrested while helping the victim load his belongings into a moving van.
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