Burglary Investigation in Vista 

November 20, 2025 – San Diego County Sheriff’s Office officials report that two people have been arrested in a string of storage unit burglaries that led to the recovery of stolen property, including weapons, cash, valuable comic books and other collectibles in the North County.

Beginning in June 2025, detectives from the Vista Sheriff's Station began investigating a fraud case related to individuals using stolen personal identifying information to lease storage units.

The investigation uncovered that the suspects were involved in five storage unit burglaries in Valley Center, six storage unit burglaries in Escondido and two storage unit burglaries in Oceanside.

Between October 28 and November 13, Sheriff's Detectives served a total of three search warrants connected to this investigation, including at a home, located in the 300 block of W. Los Angeles Drive in Vista. 

The suspects, later identified as Kyle Henely (43) and Veronica Merlo (40) were arrested on multiple felony charges, including burglary, fraud, grand theft and conspiracy. Both were booked into the Vista Detention Facility. Henely and Merlo were later re-booked on additional charges stemming from burglaries in Valley Center and Escondido.

As a result of the three search warrants, a total of 19 firearms were seized, nearly $100,000 in U.S. currency and comic books/cards/collectibles valued in the millions of dollars.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call the Vista Sheriff's Station at (760) 940-4551.

Source & photos: San Diego County Sheriff’s Office