Serial Burglar Suspected Of Terrorizing Fremont Schools Arrested: Police

FREMONT, CA — Fremont police say they've arrested a man suspected of burglarizing several schools across the Bay Area, targeting teachers' wallets and causing alarm at several elementary schools.

Fairfield resident Christopher Britton is accused of going to schools to brazenly steal teachers' credit cards during busy school hours and then using them to make fraudulent purchases at various stores, police said. His suspicious presence on campus repeatedly caused scares and police searches, putting schools on high alert, according to multiple Bay Area police departments.

Britton had previously been arrested in April on suspicion of credit card fraud, identity theft, and burglary after stealing credit cards from two Lafayette schools, according to police.

Later, Britton walked into Crocker School in Hillsborough on the afternoon of Sept. 16 and stole staff members' credit cards, which he then used to make fraudulent purchases at several businesses, the Hillsborough Police Department said in a statement Tuesday.

The department said they warned nearby schools about the incident and partnered with neighboring police departments to identify and arrest Britton.

Britton was again identified as a suspect in the series of burglaries shortly after he was caught walking around a Fremont elementary school campus on Oct. 3, police said. Staff confronted him, and he gave them conflicting reports about why he was on campus and then left, police said.

Investigators also learned that Britton was a suspect in a series of school burglaries across the Bay Area, including in Contra Costa, San Mateo, Alameda and Marin counties, police said.

The Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District warned families in late October that an individual had trespassed onto three of their school campuses and stolen personal belongings and credit cards.

District officials said at the time the suspect would enter the school during busy times like dismissal or after-hours to take advantage of easily accessible entry points. The thief pretends to be on the phone, looking for a classroom, or picking up a student, and is typically dressed in dark clothing, district officials said, adding that the suspect appeared “friendly and approachable."

Britton was returning a rental car investigators believed was used in the crimes in Walnut Creek when he was arrested, according to police, who described him as a "prolific" school burglar.

“Our educators come to work each day to teach and support our children—they should never have to worry about being targeted by criminals,” Fremont Police SRO Sergeant Richard Hamblin said in a statement Wednesday. “The dedication of our SROs and their collaboration with neighboring agencies made this arrest possible, helping ensure the safety of our schools and staff.”

The Fremont Police Department asks that school staff or anyone who believes they may have been a victim of these burglaries contact their local agency. People impacted in Fremont should contact the police department at 510-790-6900, authorities said.

The case against Britton has been forwarded to the San Mateo County District Attorney's Office for filing consideration, which police say could include charges of second-degree burglary, theft and unlawful use of access card information.