Three suspects have been arrested after they were found prowling a residential area and in possession of burglary tools. On Thursday, October 28, 2021, at approximately 3:39 a.m., deputies were dispatched to the 100-block of Oakmont Avenue in Lompoc for a report of suspicious subjects checking vehicle door handles. When deputies arrived, the suspects fled the area on foot.

Two of the suspects were located in the immediate area within minutes. When the first suspect, 33-year-old Jason Romero of Lompoc, was contacted, deputies found a loaded and unregistered firearm in his pocket. Also found in Romero’s possession were tools used to burglarize and steal vehicles. The second suspect, 25-year-old Jacob Carter of Lompoc, was found in the suspects’ vehicle and was also in possession of burglary tools. The third suspect, 26-year-old Corey Thomas of Lompoc, was found in the area of Burton Mesa and Harris Grade at approximately 8:27 a.m.

Carter and Romero were both booked at the Lompoc Jail for misdemeanor charges of conspiracy to commit vehicle burglary, and conspiracy to commit vehicle theft. Romero was booked on the additional charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm (felony). Both subjects were released without bail pursuant to the local Court’s extension of Emergency Rule 4.

Thomas was booked at the Main Jail for prowling (misdemeanor), possession of burglary tools (misdemeanor), possession of drug paraphernalia (misdemeanor), and conspiracy (felony). Thomas is being held on an enhanced bail of $100,000.