2 Fires Set, 3 Businesses Burglarized On Christmas: Petaluma PD

PETALUMA, CA — Police are hoping the public can help identify the suspects in two intentionally set fires and three commercial burglaries that happened over the holiday weekend in downtown Petaluma.

Police said there were two suspicious dumpster fires on Christmas Day— Friday— in the 200 block of Water Street: one fire started at 2:04 a.m., the second was set at 11:21 p.m. Surveillance video shows a suspect wearing a long, dark jacket with a purple hood, dark pants, dark shoes, and, possibly, a beanie.

In the burglary series, there was an attempted commercial burglary at 2 a.m. Christmas Eve — Thursday — in the 300 block of Petaluma Boulevard North. Then, on Christmas Day — Friday —two businesses were burglarized: one in the 200 block of Western Avenue, the other in 300 block of B Street. The front window was smashed on another business in the first block of 4th Street.

Police said the four incidents appeared related because the front doors/windows were smashed in, and because of evidence left at the scene.

Surveillance video from one of the businesses shows a suspect who appeared to be a 5-foot-6-inch, 190-pound man wearing a blue hooded jacket with a baggie white T-shirt underneath, black and white camouflage pants, and black and white shoes.

Police were still gathering video surveillance Monday from other businesses and were processing additional evidence.

Police do not believe the suspect in the burglaries was the same person responsible for the suspicious fires.

Anyone who recognizes either of the suspects or has other information regarding any of the incidents is asked to call the Petaluma Police Department at 707-778-4372. The Petaluma Fire Department is also investigating the suspicious fires and can be contacted at 707-778-4389.