A homeless registered sex offender was apprehended by El Cajon police after unlawfully entering a woman's apartment and attempting to steal her purse, authorities reported. Samuel Salas, 36, paroled and listed as a transient from San Diego, allegedly snuck into the residence around 10:20 AM on February 26. The intrusion happened just four days after Salas was released from jail.
According to the El Cajon Police Department, once inside, Salas was confronted by the apartment's occupant before he fled with her purse. The victim's daughter acted quickly to call the police, leading to Salas' arrest shortly after as he tried to escape the area quickly. The police found Salas possessing keys from the management office, which they believe were used to gain entry into the victim's home.
Salas, who has a history of arrests, was again taken into custody. He had been released from jail on February 22 after a December 2023 arrest by El Cajon Police for violating parole conditions. This recent incident raises concerns about the effectiveness of parole and the safety of communities with the release of repeat offenders.
The El Cajon Police are now asking for the community's help for any additional information about this recent event. Anonymous tips can be shared by calling the Crime Stoppers tip line at (888) 580-8477. For those willing to come forward with information, they may contact the El Cajon Police Department directly at (619) 579-3311, as stated in a Facebook post by the department.
