Encinitas Couple's Rent Check Stolen, Fraudulently Cashed By Unknown Man, Authorities Say

ENCINITAS, CA — Authorities asked for the public's help Wednesday to identify and locate a man wanted in connection with an Encinitas burglary and check fraud case.

According to San Diego County Crime Stoppers and investigators with the San Diego County Sheriff's North Coastal Station, a monthly rent check written and mailed by an Encinitas couple May 3 to their landlord was instead cashed for a different amount by someone who allegedly also forged their signature.

The Bank of America branch at 1340 Encinitas Blvd. contacted the victims May 4 about the check, saying that an unknown man had entered the branch and cashed the check.

The check was allegedly made out to Jose Antonio Quintero, who is not the landlord, for a different amount. The signature line of the check also appeared to be forged, authorities said.

The suspect is described as a 5-foot-10 inch Latino man who weighs about 215 pounds. He had a shaved head, mustache and a goatee at the time of the incident, and was wearing a white T‐shirt and unknown color pants.

Anyone with information about the case was urged to call the North Coastal Sheriff's Station at 760-966-3500 or the Crime Stoppers anonymous tip line at 888-580‐8477. Crime Stoppers is offering up to a $1,000 reward to anyone with information that leads to an arrest in this case. Anonymous email and text messages can be sent in via Sdcrimestoppers.org.