Man arrested for Morro Bay Maritime Museum burglary, vandalism
– The Morro Bay Police Department reported a burglary and vandalism at the Morro Bay Maritime Museum and the Morro Bay city boat yard early Jan. 5.
Police said the burglary occurred between 4:50 and 5 a.m. at the Morro Bay Maritime Museum at 1154 Front St. and the Morro Bay city boat yard at 1210 Front St. Officers responded at about 8:58 a.m. after receiving reports of the incident.
According to police, officers found three donation boxes at the Maritime Museum that had been vandalized and broken into. The suspect removed an unknown amount of currency from the boxes. Police said the suspect also gained access to the secured Morro Bay city boat yard, located steps from the museum.
A search for surveillance footage showed a white male suspect wearing a white shirt around his face, a plaid shirt, jeans, and a gray backpack while committing the thefts at the donation boxes, police said.
At about 11:15 a.m. the same day, officers responded to an unrelated disturbance call at 740 Quintana Rd. Police said officers contacted a male identified as Shane Willhite, 45, who was wearing clothing that matched the suspect seen in the surveillance footage. Officers said the gray backpack seen in the video was next to Willhite, along with the white T-shirt used to conceal the suspect’s identity.
Police said officers found several items in Willhite’s possession that had been stolen from boats inside the boat yard, as well as a pair of bolt cutters. According to police, Willhite admitted to committing the thefts and using bolt cutters to access the donation boxes and the secured yard.
Willhite was arrested without incident and booked at the San Luis Obispo County Jail on multiple charges, including petty theft with a prior, vandalism, and possession of burglary tools.
Police said the investigation remains ongoing as officers work to identify additional victims.
