Burglary Suspect Arrested After Break-In at Murrieta Middle School

MURRIETA, CA — A man accused of repeatedly targeting local schools was arrested this week after police say he broke into Shivela Middle School in Murrieta.

On Sept. 8, a School Resource Officer assigned to Shivela was informed about a burglary that had taken place the previous night, the Murrieta Police Department said on Wednesday.

The suspect broke in through a window and stole items from the administration office, including school keys, cash, gift cards, and an employee’s wallet, according to police.

The officer sought help from the department’s Community Policing Team, which quickly identified the suspect as Marice Reid, the department identified as a local transient already awaiting trial for two separate burglaries at Warm Springs Middle School.

Reid was found in Murrieta and taken into custody. During an interview, police said, he admitted to the break-in. Investigators later recovered the stolen property at his encampment.

“The safety of our schools and the children at our schools is of the utmost importance,” the department said in a statement.