Suspected Sonoma Valley burglar caught after dropping wallet near break-ins

A young Sonoma Valley man was arrested Friday on suspicion of a string of vehicle burglaries after he dropped his wallet near a car that had just been broken into, officials said.

According to the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office, prior to the arrest, residents of Boyes Hot Springs had been plagued by numerous residential, commercial and vehicle burglaries.

On Friday morning, an alert resident in the neighborhood spotted someone who looked suspicious walking by and called the Sheriff’s Office. At the same time, a nearby resident reported that vehicles in their driveway had been broken into.

Deputies responding to the scene found the wallet of Sergio Dorantes-Rodriguez, 20, of Glen Ellen - the suspicious person reported by the Boyes resident.

Dorantes-Rodriguez was found in possession of stolen property from several of the recent burglaries. He was arrested and booked into Sonoma County Jail on suspicion of felony vehicle theft or tampering; receiving stolen property, a felony; and several misdemeanor drug offenses.

Sheriff’s officials said they are trying to locate and recover more of the stolen property.

You can reach Staff Writer Martin Espinoza at ?707 521-5213 or martin.espinoza@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter ?@renofish.