Sheriff’s Department deputies from Los Angeles and Orange counties arrested two men suspected in at least eight burglaries stretching from Castaic to Lake Forest in South Orange County.

Don’t miss a thing. Get breaking Santa Clarita news alerts delivered right to your inbox.

Domanique Thomas, 25, and Desean Ward, 22, both suspected Los Angeles gang members, are currently being held in an Orange County jail, Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station deputies initiated the investigation Aug. 25, after receiving a call from a Castaic resident of the 32400 block of Sierra Oak Trail Road, who returned home to find it ransacked.
While deputies were investigating the scene of that crime — in which a rear sliding glass door had been smashed before jewelry and cash was stolen — another burglary was taking place in the same neighborhood, according to a Nixle report from the Sheriff’s Department’s Major Crimes Bureau.
At the second house, on the 28200 block of Branch Road, a suspect passed the homeowner on his way out of the house, fleeing the scene in a Porsche SUV.
The encounter helped the victim later provide deputies with a description of the suspect to deputies, as well as a description of the SUV and a partial license plate.
Two other burglaries — one on the 32600 block of Sierra Oak Trail Road, and another on the 27700 block of Mariposa Lane — were discovered when the residents returned home.
Based on witnesses’ information, Sheriff’s Station deputies contacted the Major Crimes Bureau Burglary Task Force.
Burglary Task Force deputies quickly identified the suspects and the vehicle, according to a Nixle.
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, the report stated.
Two days later, deputies located the Porsche SUV that reportedly belonging to the suspects in Lake Forest.
During their surveillance, detectives observed the suspects commit residential burglaries where the homes were ransacked and several items of jewelry were stolen, according to the Nixle report.
Burglary Task Force deputies, along with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department deputies, 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 suspects’ vehicle, officials reported.
Ward reportedly has two previous convictions, and both suspects have “an extensive criminal background,” according to Major Crimes Bureau officials.
Thomas and Ward were booked at the Orange County Jail Intake Center, and being held in lieu of $250,000 bail for the Orange County crimes.
While being interviewed, Thomas implicated himself in four Orange County burglaries and the four burglaries in Castaic.
Investigators believe the stolen property from Castaic was quickly sold in Los Angeles, and deputies are still trying to recover it for the victims.
Both suspects were arraigned at the Orange County Intake Center on Tuesday, 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, officials said.
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 websitehttp://lacrimestoppers.org.

Do you have a news tip? Call us at (661) 298-1220, or drop us a line at community@hometownstation.com.

[node:title]

Article: [node:title]
Source: Santa Clarita News
Author: [node:author]