Man Breaks Into Petaluma Home, Steals Woman's Underwear: Police

PETALUMA, CA — A man suspected of breaking into a Petaluma woman's home Monday and stealing her underwear was being held in lieu of $225,000 bail, police said.

The victim called 911 around 6:35 p.m. Monday to report the residential burglary on Paseo Del Olmo. She told police a man, later identified as Eduardo Arevalos, 28, entered her home through an unlocked sliding glass door, then came upstairs and knocked on her bedroom door.

"When the victim opened the door, she saw Arevalos, and immediately told him to leave," Petaluma police Sgt. Patrick Gerke said. "Arevalos did not leave and the victim armed herself with a pair of scissors. She again told Arevalos to leave and that she was going to be calling the police."

When Arevalos finally took off, she called 911 and told police he climbed over her back fence and ran southbound on the train tracks.

Officers found Arevalos walking in the area and tried to detain him but he ran off, Gerke said.

The officers chased him on foot into the Town and Country Shopping Center and as he got to the north side of the shopping center, they were able to cuff him without further incident.

"A stolen pair of the victim's underwear were located in Arevalos' backpack," Gerke said. "He was also in possession of a second pair of women's underwear, not belonging to the victim."

Arevalos was booked into Sonoma County jail on suspicion of residential burglary and resisting a peace officer, with bail set at $225,000, police said.

Anyone with information regarding the case is asked to call Petaluma PD at 707-778-4372.