On Sunday, February 26th, a burglary occurred at the “Star Bright Cleaners”, located at 37144 47th St E, in the city of Palmdale.
Video surveillance depicts the suspect breaking into the location at approximately 5:50 am by using an object to break the glass door. The suspect, wearing a large light-colored jacket, a key lanyard around his neck and dark colored shoes, entered the location with his small black dog. Once inside the location the suspect began to take several distinctive clothing items from the clothing rack then exited through the rear door.
Palmdale Station Deputy Millikan, who was investigating the crime, immediately recognized the suspect in the video and knew his name from past calls for service. He knew the suspect frequents the area of 47th St E. Deputy Millikan informed his partners of the crime and gave a description of the suspect.
Later in the day, Deputy Larocco was at a call for service at the “Wal-Mart”, located at 37140 47th St E, when he saw a male black adult matching the clothing description of the suspect, walking a small black dog. The deputy contacted the suspect who revealed himself as 53 year-old Palmdale resident, Gregory Thomas. He was positively identified as the suspect in the videotaped burglary.
A search warrant was conducted of Thomas’ home where deputies found distinctive clothing items stolen from the dry cleaners as well as items from an earlier burglary that occurred in the same shopping center at “Nalissimo,” just hours before the dry cleaning incident.
Thomas was transported and booked at the Palmdale Sheriff’s Station on Burglary charges and is currently being held on $20,000 bail. Thomas is scheduled to be arraigned on Tuesday, February 28th, at the Antelope Valley Courthouse.
Upon Thomas’ arrest, the dog was taken back to the suspect’s residence where s/he is being cared for by the suspect’s family.
Anyone with additional information related to this burglary or any other burglaries, please contact Detective Hall at 661-272-2456.
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Written by:
Deputy Jodi Wolfe
Palmdale Sheriff’s Station
750 East Avenue Q,
Palmdale, Ca. 93550
(661) 272-2520
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.Palmdale.lasd.org
Twitter: @jwLASD
Facebook.com/Jo Wolfe
