William Lanum, 48, of Imperial Beach was arrested Sunday after leaving Home Depot on Palm Avenue on suspicion of stealing supplies from the U.S. Navy, NBC San Diego reported.
Lanum was allegedly driving a stolen Navy vehicle at the time.
Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) investigators have been investigating Lanum for a year and searched two Imperial Beach homes Monday.
Lanum is accused of stealing supplies worth tens of thousands of dollars like copper, generators and at least one vehicle while working on ships like the USS Bonhomme Richard for a private company at Naval Base San Diego.
In the past he has been arrested for petty theft, multiple DUIs and drug possession.
He will be arraigned at the South Bay Courthouse Wednesday on the vehicle theft charge, NBC reported.
