LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport Police Department said it has arrested a man who was caught while committing a burglary.

Damon Robert Monthei, 22, of Lakeport, was arrested on Tuesday evening, police reported.

At 7 p.m. Tuesday, Lakeport Police Sgt. Mike Sobieraj was dispatched to a burglary in progress at the old Natural High School building, owned by the Lakeport Unified School District, in the 800 block of North Main Street, according to the police report.

Police said a witness had called dispatch and advised that she saw a male subject break into the building and then leave the area in a white Ford F-150 pickup truck.

Sobieraj responded to the building and began checking it when he heard banging noises coming from the inside. The report said Sobieraj then located an open door and began making entry where he found a male subject inside and saw him set something down which was later identified as a crowbar. The subject also had another crowbar in his right pants pocket.

Police said Sobieraj arrested the male subject and identified him as Monthei.

During an interview, Monthei admitted that he intended to take things when he got into the building, police said.

Sobieraj continued his investigation and located Monthei’s white Ford pickup a short distance away from the scene, police said.

The police department said it’s not yet known if Monthei is connected to other recent burglaries that have occurred in the city, but police are investigating all possibilities.

“We thank the alert citizen for calling this incident in and would like to remind the public to report all suspicious activities and persons,” the agency said.

Monthei, whose booking sheet lists him as being employed in construction, remained in custody early Thursday on a misdemeanor charge of vandalism and a felony charge of first degree burglary, with bail for the burglary charge set at $50,000.

Jail records show he is scheduled for arraignment in Lake County Superior Court on Thursday.

Monthei was arrested in December for domestic violence, based on jail records.