On Monday, August 25, 2014, deputies from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station, responded to a call for service from a resident on Sierra Oak Trail, Castaic. The resident had returned home and found it to be ransacked. The rear sliding window was smashed and several items of jewelry and cash had been stolen. As deputies investigated the crime, another residential burglary was being committed on a nearby street.
During the second burglary, the victim entered her house on Branch Road, Castaic, and discovered an intruder. The suspect quickly ran outside, passing the startled victim, and entered an awaiting Porsche Sports Utility Vehicle. The victim was able to provide a suspect description, vehicle description, and a partial license plate.
That afternoon, Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station deputies responded to homes on Mariposa Lane and Sierra Oak Trail, Castaic, where similar burglaries had occurred. The burglaries were discovered when the residents returned home.
Based on the information provided by witnesses, Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station personnel contacted the LASD Major Crimes Bureau Burglary Task Force. LASD Major Crimes Bureau Burglary Task Force quickly identified the suspects and the vehicle. A coordinated effort to locate the vehicle and arrest the perpetrators was then initiated by Santa Clarita Valley Station detectives, LASD Forensic Crime Lab investigators, and LASD Major Crimes Bureau detectives.
On Thursday, August 28, 2014, LASD Major Crimes detectives located the Porsche Sports Utility Vehicle and followed it into Lake Forest, South Orange County. During their surveillance, detectives observed the suspects commit residential burglaries where the homes were ransacked and several items of jewelry were stolen.
LASD Major Crimes Bureau Burglary Task Force deputies, along with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department conducted a felony traffic stop and arrested both suspects for residential burglary. Stolen property from the recent Orange County burglaries was recovered from within the suspect vehicle.
The suspects, 25 year-old Domanique Thomas and 22 year-old Desean Ward, both residents of Los Angeles, were booked at the Orange County Jail Intake Center and are being held in lieu of $250,000 bail for the Orange County crimes. Both suspects have an extensive criminal background and are members of a local Los Angeles area gang. Additionally, suspect Ward is a “Third Strike” candidate.
While being interviewed, Suspect Thomas implicated himself in four Orange County burglaries and the four burglaries which occurred on Monday, August 25, 2014, in Castaic. Investigators believe the stolen property from Castaic was quickly sold in Los Angeles. Attempts to locate the stolen property continue.
Both suspects were arraigned at the Orange County Intake Center on Tuesday, September 2, 2014, and remain in custody. Charges related to the Castaic burglaries are pending.
To help prevent being a victim, citizens are reminded to lock and secure their homes while away. Additionally, to prevent crime in your neighborhood, if you notice suspicious persons, vehicles, or activities in your neighborhood, quickly report it to local law enforcement.
Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Major Crimes Bureau, Sergeant Maher, at (562) 522-6937. If you prefer to provide information anonymously, you may call "Crime Stoppers" by dialing (800) 222-TIPS (8477), or texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or by using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org.
Forwarded by:
Joshua Dubin, Deputy
Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station
Ryan Rouzan, Deputy
Sheriff's Headquarters Bureau - Newsroom
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
323-267-4800
Website: http://www.lasd.org
Follow us at: Text and Emails, LASD HQ: http://www.Nixle.com
http://nixle.com/lasd----hq-newsroom-shb-los-angeles-county-sheriff/
Twitter: @LASDHQ http://twitter.com/LASDHQ
Twitter: @LASDtalk https://twitter.com/LASDTalk
Twitter: @LASDvideos https://twitter.com/LASDvideos
Twitter: @LASDespanol https://twitter.com/LASDespanol
Facebook LASD HQ:http://www.facebook.com/LosAngelesCountySheriffsDepartment
Instagram LASD Photos: http://instagram.com/LASDHQ Pinterest
LASD Photos : http://pinterest.com/lacountysheriff/
YouTube LASD Videos: http://www.youtube.com/user/LACountySheriff/videos?view=0
Alert LA County: Telephone emergency mass notification systemhttp://www.lacounty.gov/wps/portal/alertla
SNAP LA County: Specific Needs Disaster Voluntary Registryhttp://snap.lacounty.gov/
"If You See Something, Say Something"
LA Crime Stoppers: Partner to prevent or report crime by contacting your local Sheriff’s station. Or if you wish to remain Anonymous, call “LA Crime Stoppers” by dialing 800-222-TIPS (8477), texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org
John L. Scott, Sheriff
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
