‘Selfie’ burglar sentenced to probation, credit for time served

CHULA VISTA (CNS) – A man who took an arms-outstretched photo of himself
with a cellphone found at the scene of a South Bay church burglary was
sentenced Tuesday to three years probation and given credit for time served.

Adam Charles Howe, 26, pleaded guilty last month to burglary and
receiving stolen property charges.

Thieves broke into Hilltop Tabernacle Church in the 300 block of L
Street in Chula Vista on Feb. 10, stealing cash and a laptop computer. The
crooks also forcibly entered a recreational vehicle parked on the property and
looted watches and pursues from inside the RV, police said.

Total losses were estimated at about $10,000.

Investigators came across the errant mobile phone while gathering
evidence at the site, searched its contents and found the “selfie” picture of
a man sporting a beanie and white-rimmed sunglasses, Capt. Lon Turner said.

“(A) detective recognized where the photo was taken and went there,”
the captain said last month. “Witnesses in the area recognized the suspect and
indicated other areas to check.”

On Feb. 11, detectives arrested Howe after determining he was the
subject of the photo. A search of his belongings uncovered property stolen
during the burglaries at the church, according to police.

Officers located two other suspects in a riverbed area behind the
chapel. A tent they apparently had been using for shelter contained more
valuables taken during the break-ins, according to police.