Burglary suspect caught in the act

DOWNEY - Downey police officers were able to interrupt a burglary in progress after a quick-thinking teen dialed 911 to report a break-in at her home.Officers were dispatched to a home on the 12400 block of Dolan Avenue Tuesday at 7 a.m. after receiving a call from a 16-year-old girl reporting a stranger in the house. The caller's 14-year-old sister was also in the home, asleep in another room. The caller stayed on the phone with the 911 dispatcher, providing information on the suspect's appearance and movements. When officers arrived, the burglar was inside the bedroom and the caller was in the bedroom closet. Officers immediately entered the house and detained the burglar, who was attempting to flee out the back door, police officials said in a statement. Officers arrested Dwayne Allen Thomas, 26, of Los Angeles on charges of residential burglary. He was booked at the Downey Police Department and is currently being held at the Los Angeles County jail in lieu of $50,000 bail. Thomas was set to be arraigned Thursday at Downey Superior Court. -Eric Pierce, City Editor

********** Published: August 19, 2010 - Volume 9 - Issue 18