‘Hot Prowler’ ID'd as Rancho Bernardo Resident

San Diego police have identified 24-year-old Rancho Bernardo resident Ross Packard as the "main player" in a long running hot prowl series that affected at least two dozen homes in the community.

Packard was arrested Monday afternoon near the Playmor Condos off of Bernardo Center Drive after his neighbors there allegedly saw him peek into cars and toss keys and cash into bushes, San Diego police Officer Susan Steffen said.

Officers found the keys and 18 $2 bills in the bushes, which had been reported stolen earlier that day from a home on the 11800 block of Caminito Ronaldo, Steffen said.

Packard has been booked into San Diego County Jail on two felony counts of first degree burglary, with bail set at $100,000. He is set to be arraigned Thursday.

The arrest comes after six months of hot prowl burglaries in Rancho Bernardo—mostly within walking distance of the Eastview community and Playmor Condos—where cash and jewelry were taken from homes while residents were sleeping or otherwise occupied, police said.

Steffen said many times residents would leave their wallets and purses within view while they went upstairs or to another room to sleep. So far, police have connected Packard to two burglaries, but believe he may have been involved in others. The hot prowl series includes at least two dozen incidents, Steffen said.

Officers are working to connect him to other burglaries, including another Monday burglary, reported around 9:15 a.m. on Drayton Hall Way which prompted a helicopter search that ended about two hours later.

Police had been aware of Packard as a suspect in previous burglaries before Monday, but none of the victims had been able to identify him, though he is 6-feet-5-inches tall and 220 pounds. Recent lab evidence enabled police to arrest him this time, Steffen said.

Residents are advised to remain vigilant, as police believe Packard may have associates or there may be copycats, she said.