Two men were behind bars Thursday in connection with retail thefts in Encinitas dating back to at least the summer, sheriff’s officials said.
Omar Najera, 34, was taken into custody in Encinitas Wednesday, according to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office, while Daniel Dipinto, 60, was arrested in Mission Valley.
The investigation began on Aug. 29, when deputies from the North Coastal Sheriff’s Station responded to a call of a theft at the REI store on Leucadia Boulevard in Encinitas.
When they arrived, they learned a suspect, later identified as Dipinto, had allegedly stolen a Yeti cooler valued at nearly $300. Dipinto was seen fleeing the scene in a black Audi.
In addition, the vehicle description matched that of a car that had been linked to previous shoplifting incidents in the area.
During the course of their investigation, deputies from the station’s Community Oriented Policing and Problem Solving Unit connected Dipinto to other thefts at businesses including Target and Dick’s Sporting Goods.