Suspects Arrested In Palmdale Animal Shelter Burglary

PALMDALE (CBS) — Two Palmdale men were arrested and three more are being sought in connection with a burglary of the home of a woman who runs an
animal rescue shelter, authorities said Tuesday.

The arrests were made in connection with the Dec. 9 theft of 30 Petco gift cards and other items from a woman's home in the 1100 block of Avenue Q, said Deputy Robbie Royster of the Palmdale Sheriff's Station.

The cards had been donated to help the woman continue operating the rescue shelter at her home.

Then came a "huge break" in the case when Palmdale Sheriff's Station Detective James Moser, with the help of a Petco employee, identified two people who went on a shopping spree only using gift cards.

Brandon Penn, 24, and Alvaro Paiz, 25, were found by detectives Monday inside a residence in the 38600 block of 11th Street East.

In a detached garage near the back of the property detectives found several pieces of evidence linking Paiz to other burglaries in the area.

While Moser was listening to Paiz describe the additional locations he had burglarized, they learned that Paiz said he had planned to go to a residence near the 38700 block of 12th Street East to return some items that he had taken.

Moser and his partner were trying to locate the potential victims at the home when they heard a loud explosion coming from inside the home, shattering the front window. They saw three unknown individuals flee over a fence.

Deputies later learned that Paiz's associates had decided to finish the burglary he had begun and had been in the process of stealing a big-screen television when Moser knocked on the door to contact the victims.

One suspect being sought is Daniel Ramirez, 18. Royster said detectives know the identity of a second, but did not release the name.

Anyone with information on the case was asked to call the Palmdale Station at (661) 272-2400.

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