National City
A burglary at a National City credit union office has led police to a stolen property ring that hid more than $200,000 in purloined office equipment, officials said.
The break-in occurred at 2 p.m. Sunday at the National City Municipal Employee Credit Union in the 2100 block of Hoover Avenue, according to National City Police Officer David Grande. Police arrested George Cottingham, 42, of the 800 block of North 41st Street, San Diego, at the scene, Grande said.
Cottingham was being held Monday at County Jail downtown on violation of parole and suspicion of five counts of burglary. He will be arraigned today in Chula Vista.
Police also arrested an El Cajon used-car salesman in connection with the case. Leon Famera, 56, of the 2200 block of Wind River Road, was described by Grande as the alleged fence in the operation.
Famera was being held Monday at County Jail on suspicion of 20 counts of possession of stolen property and two counts of possession of drugs for sale. His bail was set at $45,000.
On Monday, San Diego police arrested a third man, 71-year-old Allen Mitchell of the 400 block of Richey Road as a result of the investigation, said San Diego police spokesman David Cohen. Mitchell’s house contained “an amazing amount” of office equipment in addition to guns and ammunition, police said.
Mitchell also was being held in County Jail on suspicion of 20 counts of possession of stolen property, police said. His bail was $40,000.
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