San Diego Police (SDPD) have a 26-year-old man in custody after they say he broke into a home at Baxter and Lehrer Drive in Clairemont Friday afternoon.
Police said a woman living in the house saw the suspect and reported he was armed with a gun. The man took off on foot and led officers on a chase through the neighborhood, into canyons and even across busy freeways.
He eventually led police to a canyon along SR-52 under the Interstate 805 where they were able to get him to surrender.
The chase led to a lockdown around 4 p.m. at Creative Performing and Media Arts School on Conrad Avenue. It was lifted just before 4:30 p.m., according to a tweet by San Diego Unified School District.
“Fortunately, one of our officers grew up in this area. He used to hike this stuff as a youngster. So he knew it very well,” said SDPD Lt. Andrew Hoffman.
Another officer on scene confirmed this wasn’t the first time the home was targeted by a burglar.
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Neighbors also told NBC 7 a man broke into the same home last week when the victim’s young son was home alone. He was apparently sick, so he didn’t go to school that day.
“Guy opened the screen, went down the stairs where the little boy was. And the guy was holding a knife,” said a neighbor who did not want to be identified.
James Accardi also lives near the home that was targeted. He said the victim spoke to him moments after the incident Friday.
“I missed it by 30 seconds. I walked into my house and my roommate said 'did you hear the scream?' Someone ran off and jumped the fence,” he said.
“She looked over the balcony and the guy was staring at her in the backyard,” he said.
Accardi said one good thing to come out of these break-ins is neighbors are communicating with each other more. He said he has met neighbors for the first time even after living near them for years.
Police have not confirmed the suspect arrested Friday is also involved in last week’s incident.
