Petaluma police seek burglary suspect

Petaluma police are circulating an image of a man suspected of burglarizing a home in southwest Petaluma in an incident that bears some similarities to a recent spate of daytime thefts throughout the city.

Police say they have seen a significant increase in the number of residential burglaries this year, including 18 in August, double the typical monthly average. Three-fourths of the thefts occurred during the day when people are away from home and in most, thieves gained entry through unlocked doors or open windows.

The victim of Wednesday’s burglary apparently heeded police warnings to lock their doors and use security measures, and now police have at least a grainy image of a man who is suspected of committing at least two other thefts in the area, said Petaluma Police Lt. Tim Lyons.

“From the description of the man, we think he may be linked to other break-ins in this area,” said Lyons. “A neighbor also saw a man matching his description earlier who was riding around the area on a bicycle.”

The man reportedly broke a window pane and opened the front door to the home on the 400 block of English Street. Footage from the security camera indicated he was in the home for 10 minutes before leaving through the front door carrying a gym bag he took from the home. The bag was filled with items belonging to the victim, police said.

Lyons said police do not believe all the burglaries were committed by the same group or groups of people and asked that residents continue to be vigilant.

“(The thieves) are taking smaller items of value, stuff they can easily carry with them, like on a bicycle,” he said, adding that Thursday was the most common day they have seen the burglaries, usually between the hours of noon and 3 p.m. “We’re hoping people keep an eye out and call us if they see anything,” he said.

In addition to locking doors, windows and other entrance ways like sliding glass doors and garages, police have suggested residents pick up newspapers, trash cans and other items that might alert a thief that nobody is home.

They also said to try to lock up the most commonly stolen items, like tablets, laptops, cameras, jewelry, cash or credit cards and prescription medications.

Anyone with information about the burglary or the man in the photo is asked to contact the Petaluma Police Department at 778-4372.

You can reach Staff Writer Elizabeth M. Cosin at 521-5276 or elizabeth.cosin@pressdemocrat.com.