The thefts happened at libraries in Alpine, 4S Ranch, Imperial Beach, Lemon Grove and Rancho San Diego, according to the sheriff's office.
Take a look at some of this week's police, fire and courtroom stories from across San Diego County.
Brandon Pleffner, 44, had been in custody since Nov. 8, facing charges of shoplifting with prior convictions.
Along with custody, he will have to register as a sex offender.
The victim died at the scene.
Alejandro Jose Confesor, 24, pleaded guilty to charges of lewd acts on a child and possession of child pornography.
Lee Lor, 40, was found guilty by a jury of a single felony count of making criminal threats.
No arrests have been reported.
David Alfonso Barrera Nunes, 37, the alleged boat captain, is due in San Diego federal court on Friday for a detention hearing.
The boat the men had been traveling in is believed to have capsized offshore from Imperial Beach.
Burn permits are required for all agricultural and residential burning.
Federal prosecutors say Marco Antonio Lopez-Guerrero, 34, of Mexicali, used young girls to smuggle meth into the U.S.
Operation Coast to Coast was conducted across 15 states, resulting in 34 arrests and the recovery of 77 survivors, officials said.
Paramedics took her to a hospital for treatment of brain bleeds, a cervical spinal fracture and a broken orbital bone, police said.
The mass-casualty accident involved a boat loaded with 19 people that left Mexico then capsized off the coast of Del Mar.
Vincent Bailey, 25, of Las Vegas, pleaded guilty to a federal count of sex trafficking of a minor.
Cameron Johnson was dressed in military-style fatigues and was in possession of a rifle that did not have a serial number, officials said.
The inmate had been in sheriff's custody since Nov. 8 and was facing charges for alleged shoplifting with priors.
A 33-year-old man ran across the intersection against a red “don’t walk” signal and was struck, police said.
Crews continue to search the waters for any additional victims.
Demaurya Wiggers, 21, was arrested by Los Angeles Police Thursday in Los Angeles, then transferred to the San Diego Police Department.
No arrests have been made.
Store employees allowed customers to unlawfully use their EBT cards to receive cash, then use the cash to buy drugs, prosecutors said.
The Lexus exited the freeway, crossed the intersection at the bottom of the off-ramp and crashed into a light pole.
Homicide detectives are interviewing witnesses and canvassing for security video.
Sheriff's officials said they have no reason to believe Cameron Johnson is still armed.
Because the circumstances of her death were unclear, police deemed it suspicious and called in homicide detectives to investigate.
Of the 944 vehicles that drove through the checkpoint, 589 vehicles were screened and 22 drivers were evaluated, police said.
The pedestrian died at the scene.
Police said the victim was lying next to her vehicle and bleeding from her head.
An unresponsive man was found on the sidewalk in the East Village neighborhood.
Homicide detectives are investigating the death of a man who was found shot at the Ocean Beach Pier, authorities said.
Air tankers, bulldozers, engines, trucks, water tenders and hand crews from throughout the region responded to the fire.
The identity of the deceased person was not released.
Steven Cleveland, 43, was already in jail in his home state on unrelated charges when he was re-booked on suspicion of murder.
The prosecution centered around the June 6, 2023, attack on three men.
David Garcia is accused of opening fire on 15-year-old Kane Roldan and 17-year-old Elias Yanez at a Halloween night party.
The rider was taken to a hospital, where he was being treated for an open fracture to his tibia-fibula and a fracture to his femur.