A man suspected of burglarizing a home in the Happy Valley neighborhood Tuesday morning, while the owners were out of town, was arrested without incident thanks to the residents' high-level security system and fast response from the Lafayette Police Department.
Lafayette officers were alerted at approximately 11:30 am. to an alarm at a Toledo Drive residence by the homeowner, who was vacationing on the East Coast, police said.
[Previous: Cops Seek Home Burglar Driving 'Flat Gray' Ford Truck Tuesday in Lafayette.]
The resident's security system allowed him to view images of the house interior when the alarm activated, and he reported seeing a masked subject -- whom he assumed to be a burglar -- inside his house, police said.
Officers from the City of Orinda were called to assist, and the law enforcement teams searched the house's interior and surrounding properties, but were unable to locate a suspect.
The home was, in fact, burglarized, and the suspect shattered a rear door to gain entry, police said.
Using a combination of photos of the suspect emailed to police by the homeowner, alerts sent to residents and media and a review of neighborhood and community security cameras' images, officers were able to pinpoint that the suspect's vehicle -- a gray pickup truck -- was sold the prior day prior to a buyer from Walnut Creek, police said.
Lafayette investigators located the suspect vehicle at a residence and arrested the suspect as he exited the residence and proceeded to enter the vehicle, police said.
During a subsequent search, investigators located property from the burglary, clothing items worn by the suspect during the burglary, and a variety of narcotics, police said, adding that the suspect, who has not yet been identified, was transported to the jail in Martinez and booked for a variety of charges, including residential burglary.
Neighbors in this area who may have seen the suspect / suspect vehicle are asked to contact investigators.
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