Grocery store theft series suspect arrested

The San Diego Police Department announces the arrest of 42-year-old Todd Laroune Gay in connection with the grocery store burglary series investigation. The suspect, a San Diego resident, was arrested yesterday afternoon in the 2400 block of Elm Avenue (Nestor).

Yesterday, undercover Eastern Division detectives were working surveillance in connection with this series. At about 1:15 p.m., the suspect struck at Von’s, 2800 Fletcher Parkway in El Cajon.

A witness got a partial license plate number and vehicle description and gave the information to Von’s loss prevention officers, who in turn gave the information to the Eastern Division detectives working the undercover surveillance.

Detectives conducted further computer work and revealed a possible suspect, Todd Gay, a parolee with contacts in South-Bay. At about 3 p.m., detectives took Gay into custody near the 2400 block of Elm Ave without incident. A witness in this case positively Identified Gay in a photo line up.

Gay was transported to SDPD headquarters where he was processed. He was later booked into San Diego Central Jail for grand theft in relation to the El Cajon case. There are in excess of 25 SDPD cases in this series and some cases that occurred in the county that will be tied to Gay.