Santa Rosa police had identified Randy James Howard, 31, as a suspect in a series of recent home and auto burglaries and were conducting surveillance on him when, at about 5 p.m. Monday, they saw him break into a car parked outside the Target store, police said.
As the alleged break-in was happening, police contacted Target security staff and had them record Howard's actions with their surveillance cameras. Howard allegedly took items from the car, put them into his own vehicle, and drove away, police said.
The detectives pulled him over a short time later and arrested him. They searched his car, his home in the 4000 block of Hoen Avenue, and a storage unit, and recovered property stolen in at least five auto and home burglaries in Santa Rosa and Rohnert Park.
Howard was arrested on suspicion of burglary, being a felon in possession of a firearm, possession of stolen property, possession of burglary tools and committing a felony while out on bail.
A second suspect, Irina Katherine Colburn, 23, was in Howard's car at the time of his arrest and lived with him, according to police. She was arrested for felony burglary and possession of stolen property.
Both were booked into Sonoma County jail.
The investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information about the suspects or the crimes is asked to contact Santa Rosa police Detectives Steinbroner or Crosbie at (707) 543-3575.
