Missing Monster Hat Leads to Arrest

A Murrieta man is facing a theft charge after several custom-made New Era Monster Team hats went missing during a house party.

Matthew Todd Smith, 21, was arrested July 22 in connection with the theft after he was allegedly seen in a Facebook photo wearing one of the hats, according to an affidavit filed by Murrieta police.

The hats have a distinct, green-colored "M" under the hat bill and are custom made for sponsored athletes, according to the affidavit filed by Murrieta police in support of the search warrant.

Smith was allegedly one of several uninvited adult guests when a 14-year-old Murrieta girl had friends over for a gathering. Her parents, who work for the energy drink company, were not home at the time, according to the affidavit.

After the party died down, the girl realized that several items were missing from the parents' home office. Missing items included 10 hats and 10 cases of Monster drinks, according to the affidavit.

Other items allegedly gone were five pairs of Oakley sunglasses, credit cards, several Apple iPads, an iPod Touch, iPod Nano and $500 in cash, according to the warrant.

The girl's father emailed the Facebook photos of Smith allegedly wearing one of the hats to the Murrieta Police Department, after which the search warrant was obtained.

Smith was released on $5,000 bail and is due in court Sept. 16 on a petty theft charge.