Suspect In Petaluma Burglary, Theft Spree Arrested: Police

PETALUMA, CA — A Sebastopol man was arrested as the suspect in a brief crime spree Saturday in Petaluma. According to police, Evan Davis Thomas, 25, is suspected in a commercial burglary at 5:10 a.m. Saturday at Friedman's Home Improvement, a vehicle burglary at 8:38 a.m. on Prince Albert Court, and shoplifting at 1:25 p.m. at Kohl's.

In the first incident at Friedman's, 429 N. McDowell Blvd., a suspect accessed the nursery area of the store and began to collect merchandise, police said. The suspect was confronted by an employee at which time he fled the area with multiple power tools, police said. Officers were provided video surveillance footage of the suspect but were unable to immediately locate him.

The alleged vehicle burglary was in the 200 block of Prince Albert Court. Police said the victim discovered his car had been rummaged through sometime during the night. Several small items were missing, including the victim’s cellphone, police said.

When officers responded at 1:25 p.m. to Kohl’s, 1363 N. McDowell Blvd., to investigate a report of a shoplifting in process, they made contact with Thomas.

Officers recognized Thomas from the video surveillance footage from the earlier burglary at Freidman’s, police said.

Thomas was also allegedly found to be in possession of several items from Freidman’s, as well as the victim's cellphone from the auto burglary.

Thomas was arrested and booked into Sonoma County jail on suspicion of burglary and possession of stolen property.

He remained jailed Monday morning in lieu of $20,000 bail, sheriff's records showed.

Patch file photo by Renee Schiavone