Man Jailed in Car Burglary, Suspected in Others

A Ventura man was arrested Sunday morning after he was caught trying to break into a car at the Holiday Inn Beach Resort parking lot in Ventura, and police believe the man may be linked to 40 car burglaries in the area, Ventura Police Sgt. John Garner said.

Jerry Lee Jones, 32, was being held in Ventura County Jail on Sunday in lieu of $5,000 bail, Garner said. He was booked on suspicion of burglary, possession of burglary tools and resisting arrest.

Police were staking out the parking lot Sunday morning after a rash of burglaries were reported there and at a nearby lot at the Country Inn, Garner said. Several other recent car burglaries have been reported at the public parking structure on Santa Clara Street.

In all, more than 40 burglaries have been reported between 6 and 8 a.m. within the past month. Investigators will look into whether Jones may have been involved in some or all of them, Garner said.

At about 6:50 a.m. Sunday, after police said they discovered Jones trying to break into a car, Jones dropped his backpack and fled, Garner said. After a short chase on foot, police caught Jones, who continued to struggle, Garner said. Inside his backpack, police found cutting tools, a flashlight and other suspected burglary devices.