San Diego

Man Suspected of Burglarizing House Tented for Termites in Carlsbad Arrested

Camera surveillance footage inside the house revealed a man sneaking around while donning a white suit and respirator.

Investigative leads helped officers arrest a man, suspected of burglarizing a house tented for termites in Carlsbad early Thursday morning, confirmed police.

Carlsbad police arrested 34-year-old Jonathan Scott of Escondido on a burglary charge. He was located on the 600 block of Rancho Santa Fe Road in San Marcos at around 10:30 a.m.

Scott was driving a 2002 Ford Ranger before he was arrested and booked into the Vista Detention Facility, said police. An investigation into the alleged burglary is ongoing.

On Thursday morning, Carlsbad police received a call from a homeowner who reported an intruder in his home. It happened on the 6300 block of Paseo Aspada between Paseo Corono and Carrillo Way.

A homeowner told police his house was tented for termites, and part of the tenting process included placing cameras inside the house to detect an intruder.

The camera system later alerted the homeowner to the intruder's presence, according to Carlsbad police.

Within minutes, officers were dispatched to the house and arrived at 6:14 a.m.

The homeowner told police he had been awakened by the security system. He estimated the intruder may have been in the house for about 40 minutes.

The intruder was last spotted on the camera surveillance system at about 5:50 a.m.

Carlsbad police secured the house and searched for any openings in the tenting that the burglar could have used to get in. The termite company discussed ways to safely enter the house with police and sent assistance to the scene.

A K-9 Unit from the Poway Office of the San Diego County Sheriff's Department was called for, said Carlsbad police. Police and the K9 went into the house at about 7:30 a.m., when the termite company deemed it safe.

The house was cleared and the intruder was nowhere in sight.

Camera surveillance footage inside the house revealed a man sneaking around while donning a white suit and respirator.

The value of stolen items was not yet clear. Before tenting, the homeowner followed excellent safety procedures and removed many valuables from the home, according to Carlsbad police.

Detectives, officers and crime scene investigators are still searching for more evidence.

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