Burglary At Gold Rush Jewelers: Man, 42, Arrested

NOVATO, CA — A man who is on active parole for prior burglary convictions has been arrested in connection with a burglary at Gold Rush Jewelers in Novato.

William Kennedy, 42, of Petaluma was identified as a suspect during an investigation into the Nov. 26 burglary, and he was located and arrested in Sonoma County on Tuesday, Novato police said on Facebook.

Kennedy was transported and booked into the Marin County Jail on charges of burglary and violating his parole, police said.

On Nov. 26 at around 1 p.m., the Novato Police Department responded to a report of a burglary at the jewelry store, which is located in the Novato Fair Shopping Center.

Witnesses reported that a suspect entered the business posing as a customer and requested to see jewelry from a display case, then fled the store with jewelry he didn't pay for, witnesses said.

The suspect, later identified as Kennedy, took "thousands of dollars in jewelry" and fled the store in an older silver or tan sedan with body damage, police said. No weapons were used and no threats were made to anyone during the incident.

"We appreciate the witnesses and community members that provided information to help us solve this case," police said on Facebook. "We would like to thank our law enforcement partners at the California State Department of Corrections, Santa Rosa Parole Office for their assistance with this case."

Anyone with information on the case should contact the Novato Police Department Investigations Division at (415) 897-4361, Attention: Detective Shaw. Refer to case #NP21-3702.