A judge on June 12 ordered a man to stand trial on three robberies and a burglary in La Jolla and Pacific Beach in which the man’s ex-girlfriend wrote a letter about the crimes to the sheriff’s department.
A trial date was set for Oct. 30 for David Allen Grub, 43, after San Diego Superior Court Judge Kenneth So heard witnesses at a preliminary hearing. Grub pleaded not guilty and remains in jail on $300,000 bail.
A mysterious letter was found Feb. 21 at the sheriff’s station in Alpine that named Grub as responsible, but initially no one knew who wrote the letter. Grub lived in Alpine at the time, and a search of his residence and car turned up stolen property from several cases.
Sheriff’s Det. Karen Stone testified the letter writer was Grub’s ex-girlfriend. “She felt what he was doing was wrong,” said Stone.
“She started to cry. She said she still loved him,” said Stone regarding her interview with the ex-girlfriend.
Grub is accused of accosting a real-estate agent in La Jolla on Aug. 1 at 6:15 p.m. after the agent had just finished showing the house to a prospective buyer. Witnesses said a man with a rifle showed up at the front door and demanded jewelry and money. He grabbed fur coats and jewelry and took the agent’s cell phone. The robber fired shots at the homeowner’s feet as he was leaving. He dropped the fur coats and fled in a black two-door vehicle.
Grub is accused of being one of two armed robbers on Dec. 20 in Rancho Santa Fe. The robbers handcuffed the maid to the front door and demanded jewelry, diamonds and cash. The home was ransacked of $250,000 in jewelry, gold and other items, according to court records.
The first burglary occurred on May 24, 2012, on Loring Street in Pacific Beach at 10 a.m. when the resident returned home and saw a man carrying a drawer from his dresser. The suspect fled in a black car and the victim discovered a large amount of jewelry was stolen.
Police Det. John Smith testified a jewelry box that belonged to the Pacific Beach victim was found in Grub’s car. Smith said there was other stolen property found, including a suitcase, but police have not determined its owner.