Police Arrest 2 Burglary Suspects at Vista La Mesa Academy

This story was originally posted at 9:12 a.m. June 6. The value of the recovered property has been updated.

Suspected burglars were stopped in their tracks by law enforcement early Thursday morning as the two tried to escape over a fence with stolen goods, police say. 

An 18-year-old man and a juvenile were arrested at Vista La Mesa Academy at 3900 Violet St., La Mesa, after they were caught stealing computer equipment, according to authorities.

Five classrooms were affected, according to the Lemon Grove School District, and the potential loss of the recovered equipment totaled $41,500.

According to La Mesa police, officers went to the school shortly before 2:30 a.m. in response to a burglary alarm. Once there, they heard breaking glass and saw two people exiting the school carrying computer equipment, police said in a statement.

Both suspects were taken into custody as they jumped a fence at the south end of the school grounds, police said. The statement identified the 18-year-old as Victor Dontigny of La Mesa and said the juvenile, whose name was withheld, is 16.

Dontigny was booked into county jail on suspicion of burglary. He is being held on $25,000 bail, according to online jail records, and is scheduled to be arraigned June 10.

The juvenile was booked into Juvenile Hall on suspicion of burglary.

—City News Service contributed to this report.