Man suspected of trying to sell stolen crossbow to undercover police

By Hannah FryStaff Writer

Nov. 22, 2016 4:33 PM PT

A 32-year-old Costa Mesa man was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of trying to sell a stolen crossbow to undercover detectives, police said.

Fountain Valley police said the custom crossbow, fishing gear and camping equipment, with a total value of more than $8,000, were stolen Saturday from a storage unit in the 17000 block of Newhope Street.

The owner contacted police after he found his crossbow advertised for sale on Craigslist. Detectives, working undercover, arranged to meet the seller in Costa Mesa.

Alex Crouse was arrested on suspicion of burglary and an outstanding burglary warrant. He was booked into Orange County Jail with bail set at $45,000, police said.

hannah.fry@latimes.com

Twitter: @HannahFryTCN

Hannah Fry

Hannah Fry covers breaking news for the Los Angeles Times. She most recently covered Orange County for The Times and has written extensively about criminal trials, housing, politics and government. In 2020, Fry was part of the team that was a Pulitzer finalist for its coverage of a boat fire that killed 34 people off the coast of Santa Barbara. Fry came to The Times from the Daily Pilot, where she covered coastal cities, education and crime. An Orange County native, Fry started her career as an intern at the Orange County Register.