A suspect in Huntington Beach, California, posed as an electrician to gain access to multiple churches, police say.
The man claimed to be responding to a power outage while wearing equipment and carrying tools before entering the buildings, according to KTLA.
One church staff member confronted him when no outage existed and alerted authorities.
Surveillance footage and investigations linked the suspect to similar incidents across Southern California, where he allegedly used the same electrician disguise.
Police arrested the individual after reviewing video evidence and tracking his vehicle.
The incident highlights the trust placed in contractors and the importance of verifying credentials before allowing anyone on-site—even someone in electrical gear.
Source: KTLA-TV CW 5 Los Angeles
Burglar targeted churches while pretending to be electrician, police say
VIDEO/PHOTO: The Huntington Beach Police Department has arrested a man they say pretended to be an electrician to steal from Southern California churches.
Juan Carlos Montiel’s scheme was busted after he tried to force his way into First Christian Church in the 1200 block of Main Street in the early hours of Sunday, Aug. 17, police said in a news release.
A church employee spotted and confronted Montiel, who “claimed to be a worker responding to a power outage and was wearing equipment and carrying tools consistent with an electrician,” police added.
There was no power outage, however, and after Montiel was escorted off the property, the incident was reported to police.
