Man Arrested After Alleged Crime Spree, Multiple Home Burglaries

A South Dakota resident and Navy Reservist has been arrested on multiple criminal charges after a two-day crime spree involving the theft of a vehicle, multiple residential burglaries, and a driving under the influence of an alcoholic beverage arrest in San Diego.

On Monday, August 5th, about 2:15 a.m. 20 year old Justin Baier of South Dakota was arrested in San Diego for Driving Under the Influence of an alcoholic beverage by the San Diego Police Department.

At the time of that arrest, Baier was driving a vehicle belonging to a resident in Coronado. Investigation determined that sometime earlier in the evening Baier had entered an unlocked house in the 300 block of H Avenue in Coronado, removed car keys, and stole the resident’s vehicle. The vehicle owner was unaware of the key and vehicle theft until contacted by Coronado officers following up on whether Baier was supposed to be in possession of the car.

Baier was booked into the San Diego County Jail on DUI, burglary, and auto theft charges on Monday morning. He bailed out of jail later in the day.

On Tuesday, August 6th just after 1:00 a.m. Coronado Police received a report of a male subject who had entered an unlocked house in the 700 block of B Avenue but was scared off by the resident.

While officers were searching the area for that suspect,another resident in the 400 block of B Avenue reported stopping a male subject who had attempted to enter his unlocked residence.

That Coronado resident had also observed the suspect enter a neighbor’s unlocked house in the same block minutes before. Officers arrested Justin Baier and charged him with two counts of burglary, one count of attempted burglary and two counts of committing a felony while on bail. No property appears to have been stolen from any of the residences he entered Tuesday morning. 

A bicycle located near the scene of the first crime is believed to have been stolen by Baier but no victim has come forward yet.

Baier was booked into San Diego County Jail Tuesday morning on $290,500 bail. 

The Coronado Police remind residents to take simple precautions by locking doors and windows to reduce the chance of being a victim of a property crime. These types of crimes can occur during the day and night. Contact the Police immediately on 911 if you hear someone inside your house who should not be there. 

–Coronado Police Department press release