Suspect arrested in Nipomo burglary could be linked to other thefts

A Nipomo man was arrested Thursday morning in connection with a residential burglary, and during a search of his home police allegedly discovered more stolen property and a loaded firearm equipped with a homemade silencer.

Brett William Douglass, 38, was arrested on suspicion of carrying out a Nov. 28 burglary of an elderly couple’s home in which he allegedly stole die-cast model cars and a purse while they slept.

Investigators from the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office obtained surveillance footage that showed Douglass in his vehicle in the area, according to a Sheriff’s Office news release.

Douglass, who is on felony probation for a drug-related conviction, was soon identified, and officers searched his home on the 200 block of Archer Way.

The cars and purse, as well as a gun fitted with an illegal silencer, were discovered at the house, along with laptops, cellphones, watches and tools believed to have been stolen from other homes in the area in recent months, according to Sheriff’s Office spokesman Tony Cipolla.

Douglass was booked into San Luis Obispo County Jail on suspicion of a single count of felony first-degree burglary and being a felon in possession of a firearm. On Thursday night, he remained in jail in lieu of $50,000 bail.

This story was originally published December 4, 2014 at 7:15 PM with the headline "Suspect arrested in Nipomo burglary could be linked to other thefts."