Reward offered for information on theft suspect

San Diego County Crime Stoppers and investigators from the North Coastal Sheriff’s Station are asking for the public’s help to locate an unknown suspect wanted in connection with a stolen vehicle and identity theft that occurred in Encinitas on Dec. 5.

Crime Stoppers is offering up to a $1,000 reward to anyone with information that leads to an arrest in this case. Anyone with information should call the Sheriff’s Station at 760-966-3500 or the Crime Stoppers anonymous tip line at 888-580-8477. Anonymous email and text messages can be sent in via sdcrimestoppers.org.

On Dec. 5 at about 11:30 a.m., an unknown suspect stole a Kia rental car from 2050 South Coast Hwy 101, across from the San Elijo Campground in Encinitas.

The vehicle was recovered a short time later but several items were stolen from the car including two surfboards, an IPad, $500 in cash and the victim’s wallet with credit cards. The suspect fraudulently charged over $3000 on the stolen credit cards at various locations in Encinitas.

The suspect is described as a white male, between 35-45 years old, standing about six feet tall and weighing 180 pounds. He had a shaved head, was unshaven and was last seen wearing a camouflage shirt and pants. He was wearing a flip flop on his right foot and no shoe on his left foot. The suspect walked with a limp.

The suspect was last seen driving a blue Hyundai Tucson with yellow paper plates on both the front and rear license plate holders.

Surveillance video of the suspect can be viewed at https://spaces.hightail.com/space/uXqnN.