Transient Breaks Into Petaluma Home, Runs Off When Confronted: PD

PETALUMA, CA — A 26-year-old transient was arrested Saturday after he allegedly entered a stranger's house in Petaluma and was confronted by a resident there, police said. Evan David Thomas of Petaluma is believed to have entered a house in the 1700 block of Spyglass Road — near Casa Grande Road and Ely Boulevard South — at about 7:15 p.m. Saturday through an open dining room window from which he removed the screen, police said.

When inside, Thomas encountered a resident who woke up from a nap to see Thomas standing in the living room. When confronted by the homeowner, Thomas ran out the front door toward a creek across the street, police said.

One neighbor's home security camera system captured Thomas approaching the victim's house, and another neighbor saw Thomas flee the house, according to police.

Officers searched the area for Thomas and found him on Sartori Drive, where it crosses the same creek, about two blocks from the victim's house, police said. Thomas was detained without incident.

At the time of his arrest, Thomas was found in possession of a backpack with about $500 worth of clothing police determined had been stolen from the T.J.Maxx store in Petaluma about three hours before he entered the Spyglass Road house, police said.

Thomas was arrested on suspicion of residential and commercial burglary and was booked into the Sonoma County Jail in Santa Rosa.

Bay City News Service