Suspect was Arrested for a String of Burglaries
APTOS—Investigators with the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office have made and arrest in the string of burglaries that occurred in Aptos. Their investigation led them to arrest 35-year-old Watsonville resident Thomas Armstrong and charge him with burglary in the first degree.
On Tuesday, September 9, detectives with the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office paid a visit to Armstrong’s residence on Varni Road in Watsonville. Armstrong was suspected of committing five separate burglaries in the Aptos area over the past several weeks.
Thomas Armstrong
He was thought to be responsible for three separate residential burglaries on Cuesta Drive, one commercial burglary on Spreckels Drive, and one auto burglary that occurred on Baltusrol Way. All incidences occurred in Santa Cruz County.
During the execution of the search warrant at Armstrong’s residence, investigators recovered some of the cash and specific stolen medication from the residential burglaries.
“Detectives tied Armstrong to the commercial burglary because they recovered his cell phone that he apparently left at the scene.” Santa Cruz County Sheriffs Lieutenant Bob Payne wrote in a press release,“We are still investigating Armstrong and his possible involvement in other burglaries in the Aptos area.”
He was transported to the Santa Cruz County Jail and charged with California Penal Code 459, Burglary in the first degree, pc 11364 for being in possession of drug paraphernalia, and pc1203.2 for a probation violation.
His bail has been listed at $25,500.00, however, he was also arrested for a no bail probation violation. Armstrong has a long history with law enforcement – records show arrests going back to 2007 and earlier. Two arrests, in February and September 2007 were for being under the influence of drugs and probation violations. That was followed in December by a burglary arrest. In 2009 he was arrested for being under the influence and possession of burglary tools. Records show a total of five arrests in 2010 for grand theft, possession of stolen property, being under the influence, and probation violations. His most recent prior arrest was in August of this year for possession of a controlled substance and paraphernalia, and probation violations.
Investigators with the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office are asking anyone with information regarding these cases, or if they believe they could have been victimized by Armstrong, to please contact the Sheriff’s Office at 831-454-7611.
