He was hanging out in the hallways, roaming around the elementary school campus in Northern California, apparently not afraid to be noticed.
When an administrator questioned him, the man would say he was looking for a teacher or student to abandon the judge. However, authorities claim he is indeed looking for unattended purses and wallets belonging to unsuspecting staff.
The Marin County Sheriff’s Office accused Fairfield’s Christopher Britton of getting credit cards in a burglary classroom at several schools in February and making thousands of dollars in unauthorized purchases.
Britton, 34, was arrested Friday morning at her Fairfield residence, including Vacaville, Lafayette and Danville Police Department, Dublin Police Department and the Sheriff’s Office.
Britton was charged with burglary, second-degree burglary, all felony and one misdemeanor using credit cards and information to obtain credit in the capacity of others, according to court records.
“His Mo is targeting primary schools late afternoons on campus, but in meetings or after-school classes,” said Deputy Stephanie Ware, a spokesman for the Marin County Sheriff’s Office.
Ware said three public primary schools in the upscale suburbs of San Rafael were stolen: the Lucas Valley, Mary Sylvela and the Venetian Valley.
From these schools, 10 teachers earned from about $7,000 in credit card charges, Weill said.
Weill said authorities were unsure of the total number of schools Britton could suffer, adding that investigators suspected victims of Marin, Contra Costa and Alameda County.
The first event took place on February 12 at Mary Silveira. All three schools were attacked in February. It is unclear how authorities linked Britton to burglary.
Ware describes Lucas Valley and Mary Silveira as “a fairly open campus” with a lack of gates that may prevent outsiders from wandering over the house.
Sheriff’s officials claimed Britton will wait for a rally or other event to sneak into the unlocked classroom where the teacher left behind personal belongings.
Authorities say he would limit one or two cards he stolen to one or two cards without interruption of cash and other valuables to avoid suspicion.
Authorities say he will use the cards to purchase items once he leaves campus.
Weill said some victims did not realize they had been deprived of weeks until they got a specific credit card or check bank statement.
“People keep multiple credit cards, so it’s not surprising,” Ware said.
