Burglary in Lemon Grove 

November 22, 2025 – San Diego County Sheriff’s Department officials report that two men are facing serious charges after getting caught stealing from a home improvement store in Lemon Grove.

On November 20, 2025, around 6:00 p.m., deputies from the Lemon Grove Sheriff's Substation's Community Oriented Policing and Problem-Solving (COPPS) team coordinated a counter-theft operation at the Home Depot store, located in the 7500 block of Broadway. 

During the operation, deputies observed two men walking out of the store with more than $1,000 worth of merchandise without paying for it. Deputies approached the suspects, later identified as Alejandro Zuniga (30) and Carlos Escalante (40). Zuniga surrendered to deputies, but Escalante took off running. After a short foot pursuit, deputies arrested Escalante.

Zuniga and Escalante were booked into the San Diego Central Jail on felony burglary charges. Zuniga is facing an additional charge of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. Escalante is facing an additional charge of being in possession of a controlled substance. 

Source: San Diego County Sheriff’s Department