Burglar arrested for two separate crimes in Del Rey Oaks

A burglary suspect connected to two separate crimes in Del Rey Oaks has been arrested.

33-year-old Christopher Monroe is accused of vandalizing property at the Safeway store at 815 Canyon Del Rey Boulevard. Monroe walked into the grocery store on April 2, around 12:39 a.m. and started damaging a large amount of goods in the stock room. When store employees confronted Monroe he threatened them and left.

“Portions of this event were captured on the stores surveillance camera system and were reviewed by officers investigating the incident,” said Chief Jeff Hoyne of Del Rey Oaks PD.

Later that day, officers were dispatched to a reported burglary at a church in the 800 block of Rosita Road. The burglary occurred sometime between April 1 and April 2.

Chief Hoyne said, “An unknown suspect forced entry into the church and several rooms were ransacked and an unknown amount of money was taken from the church.”

After reviewing physical evidence collected at the crime scene officers were able to tie the two incidents together and identify the suspect.

On April 4, Monroe was found climbing onto the roof of a Seaside home. Police arrived and detained him.

Monroe was arrested and booked into the Monterey County Jail for burglary, vandalism; damages of $400 or more, exhibiting a deadly weapon in a threatening manner, and theft.