Two arrested in Petaluma home burglary spree

Two suspected serial burglars remained in the Sonoma County Jail Tuesday, following their arrest by Petaluma police detectives investigating a series of thefts at homes under renovation.

The pair, Kevin Atherton, 64, of Petaluma and transient Bradley Holl, 52, were arrested Monday by Petaluma detectives on two counts of felony burglary. The charges involve a recent burglary at a Sunnyslope Avenue home, but detective Sgt. Ed Crosby said the men are suspects in at least 10 similar burglaries dating back to January.

Detectives still were calculating the losses, but Crosby said it adds up to at least thousands of dollars in stolen items, ranging from hardware, fixtures and faucets, to construction tools including saws and drills.

Most of the burgled homes were in west Petaluma and all involved homes vacated for renovation work. The break-ins have been similar, involving a forced door or window between midnight and dawn.

Detectives suspect the pair has been selling, or returning many of the unopened items to stores, at least in part to fuel drug buys, Crosby said.

During the long holiday weekend, detectives connected the men to the Sunnyslope Avenue case and on Monday arrested them. Inside the truck they drove, detectives found construction equipment from the home and items from other burglaries, Crosby said.

Detectives are still investigating. “We suspect there probably have been a lot more cases we don’t even know of yet both in town and in other jurisdictions,” Crosby said.

The two remained in the Sonoma County Jail on Tuesday, with bail set at $100,000 each.

Anyone with information should contact Detective Lance Novello at 707-778-4334.