Marine arrested in commercial burglaries

Twenty-one-year-old Thomas Young, a Marine stationed at Camp Pendleton, was arrested at 2:55 a.m. Monday morning (February 11) in connection with at least two commercial burglaries in Fallbrook.

Detective Jeff Lauhon of the Fallbrook Sheriff’s Substation made the arrest.

Lauhon, who was on direct patrol detail at the time in response to the recent wave of commercial burglaries, noticed Young, dressed in all black, running from the area of South Mission and Ammunition Road. When Young ran across the street on a red light, Lauhon tried to stop him.

Sgt. Theresa Adams-Hydar said when Lauhon tried to stop the suspect, he ran.

“After a short chase, [Lauhon] detained the individual,” Adams-Hydar said. “Young is a Marine. He is from Michigan but resides in Fallbrook.”

Young was found to be in possession of a box that contained several items from the two businesses that had been burglarized, one being a local medical office.

“He was found to be in possession of controlled substances and other property,” Adams-Hydar said. “The owner came and identified it all.”

Adams-Hydar said the burglarized businesses had been entered in the same manner many others had over the past few weeks.

“I knew we were going to get him, it was just a question of when,” Adams-Hydar said. “I’m really happy with Detective Lauhon and the patrol deputies who were working. They really took these burglaries personally.”

Adams-Hydar said Young was recently arrested for shoplifting at a local market and, due to his failure to appear in court, a warrant had been issued for his arrest.

Following his arrest in the commercial burglaries, Young was taken to the Vista jail, where his bail has been set at $25,000.

“We are still continuing our investigation into the burglaries,” said Adams-Hydar.

As reported in the 2/7/08 issue of the Village News, 28 businesses have been the victim of commercial burglaries in Fallbrook since January 1, with the target being ‘Mom and Pop’ operations.