Cellphone taken in home invasion leads to arrests

A Pacific Beach home-invasion victim tracked his stolen cellphone to Carlsbad Sunday night, leading officers to find and arrest at least two suspects in connection with the case.

The incident began around 9:50 p.m. when two men pushed their way into a home on Jewell Street near Pacific Beach Drive after the victim answered the door, police said. One intruder had a gun, and the second took a knife from the kitchen.

Police said the victim was held at gunpoint while his home was searched.

The two men took personal items, cash and the victim's cellphone and took off. A witness who thought it was strange the intruders had backed into a parking space told police what the vehicle looked like and which way it headed when they fled, police said.

But it was the quick thinking of the 41-year-old victim that provided key information to police.

“The victim got on his laptop once the suspects left to ping his phone,” said police Officer Sarah Foster. “They took his phone and some other stuff and that's how we were able to get the location and found a car that matched the description.”

The suspects' vehicle was located heading north on Interstate 5 and pulled off at Palomar Airport Road.

OnScene TV reported a police helicopter helped locate the car and that officers conducted a “hot stop.”

Foster said at least two men described as being between 30 and 40 years old were arrested. The stolen items were recovered along with a handgun, police said.