Undercover police arrest burglary suspect

Undercover Fountain Valley Police detectives arrested a Costa Mesa man today on suspicion of burglary after the suspect tried to sell a stolen item in Craigslist, police reported.

On Nov. 19, a commercial burglary occurred at a storage facility located on the 17000 block of Newhope Street in Fountain Valley. The lock was cut on a storage unit and more than $8,000 worth of fishing gear, camping equipment, and a custom crossbow was stolen.

The victim contacted the Fountain Valley Police Department after he observed his crossbow advertised for sale on a Craigslist ad.

Fountain Valley detectives arranged an undercover buy with the seller to purchase the crossbow. This morning, detectives detained Alex Crouse, 32 years old, from Costa Mesa as he arrived with the stolen crossbow at a pre-arranged location in Costa Mesa.

Police said Crouse admitted to the theft, and additional stolen property taken from the storage unit was located at a residence nearby.

Crouse was arrested on suspicion of burglary and on an outstanding burglary warrant. He was booked into Orange County Jail where he is being held on $45,000 bail.