2nd Suspect Arrested in School Thefts

Orange County sheriff’s deputies have arrested a second man believed to be responsible for a series of break-ins at 17 campuses throughout the .

The search continues for more possible suspects.

Thursday night, sheriff’s deputies in Mission Viejo arrested Edgar Saldivar, 19, on suspicion of possessing methamphetamine, when, they say, he confessed his involvement in the school thefts, said Gail Krause, a spokeswoman for the Sheriff’s Department.

“During the interview, he admitted to the portable burglaries at schools in Laguna Niguel, Aliso Viejo, Mission Viejo and San Juan Capistrano,” Krause said.

Since school ended June 21, . Portable classrooms have been a favorite target.

Deputies believe the burglars absconded with “thousands of dollars” in electronic equipment, officials have said. They set up surveillance at several campuses last weekend in hopes of catching the suspects.

Saldivar is the second suspect deputies have linked to the crime. The first was Diego Armando Avila Magana, 23, of San Juan Capistrano. It was not immediately known in which city Saldivar lives.

A search of court records shows that Saldivar had a warrant out for his arrest in connection with a drug charge, possession of a controlled substance, to which he pleaded guilty March 29, 2011.

The schools hit in San Juan Capistrano were  and the four public elementary schools: , ,  and .

The five Mission Viejo schools broken into were ,  and three elementaries: ,  and .

Aliso Viejo’s four schools targeted were , ,  and .

The three Laguna Niguel schools hit were   and