Burglary suspect caught on camera in Petaluma

Petaluma police Wednesday released a photo of a burglary suspect, hoping for help in catching the man they said stole a gas-powered generator by leaving a local store through a fire exit door.

The man walked out of Friedman’s Home Improvement Center with the generator in a shopping cart, using a rear emergency exit, according to police. Opening the door set off an alarm, which was checked by employees who reportedly found nothing amiss.

But a review of surveillance tape showed a man using the door and leaving the store with a cart holding a generator.

The theft, which was considered a felony due to the generator’s cost, occurred at about 6:40 p.m. Friday at the North McDowell Boulevard store.

Police described the man as 25-30 years old, about 5-foot-10 and 220 pounds. He had a dark-colored mustache and beard and was wearing a blue baseball-type hat, a blue and white plaid button shirt over a black shirt, khaki pants and light gray shoes.

Police asked anyone with information to contact Officer J. Silva at 707-778-4372.

You can reach Staff Writer Randi Rossmann at 521-5412 or randi.rossmann@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter@ rossmannreport.