Claremont Police Nabs Suspected Sprinkler Thief

A man suspected of selling sprinkler heads stolen from at least one location in Claremont was arrested recently at a home in Montclair, according to police officials.
Stewart Sanquist, 52, was taken into custody on suspicion of possessing stolen property. Investigators said they traced the thefts to Sanquist with the help of several recycling center employees who told investigators that a man had recycled some 50 brass sprinkler heads over the course of a few days, Claremont Police officials wrote a in news release dated April 2.
Officials then tracked him to Montclair where he was taken into custody, police officials said.
Officers found a glass pipe containing methamphetamine in Sanquist’s pocket when they searched him, according to the news release. The investigation is on-going.
Keeping the GOOD in OUR Neighborhood, or KGNH, a non-profit resident group who works to keep residents informed and hosts neighborhood safety events has been in contact with police posted the following comment which was issued to their group by Claremont Police:

“We have a suspect in custody on the sprinkler head thefts. We can place him in the city and on at least one of the streets where the thefts occurred. He has been turning them in for cash at a local recycling center. Working hard to see if we have enough to get a criminal filing, but we are confident he's at least one of our thieves.”

KGNH had been keeping neighbors updated on some of the thefts and reported one on March 26 in the area of Villa Maria Road and Sage Street.
“THANK YOU ALWAYS begins with the neighbors who reported this crime trend and called (Claremont Police) when we asked,” KGNH organizer Betty Crocker wrote on Facebook to her the non-profit’s followers. “I spoke to a few neighbors that were reluctant to report a "low level" crime such as sprinklers. We would have NEVER KNOWN of this trend if it wasn't for great communication and a police department that watches these trends. This is GREAT EVIDENCE to how important calling in every crime that occurs.”