CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – A Clearlake Oaks woman and her adult son were arrested last week in connection with a series of residential burglaries in the Clearlake Oaks area.
Christine Annette Duggan, 47, and her 22-year-old son, Mathew Martin Gardiner, were arrested on Tuesday, March 29, according to a Wednesday report from Capt. James Bauman of the Lake County Sheriff's Office.
Bauman said the arrests resulted from ongoing investigations the Sheriff's Major Crime Unit was conducting into the burglaries. The arrests also resulted in recovery of stolen property.
He said that, over the past several months, the sheriff’s office has responded to multiple reports of burglaries or thefts in the community of Clearlake Oaks.
Sheriff’s detectives and patrol deputies have been coordinating their investigations to develop leads on the cases, and Bauman said last week their efforts led them to a home where stolen property was being stored.
On March 24, sheriff’s detectives received information from one of the burglary victims that Duggan and Gardiner may have been involved in the thefts. Bauman said detectives were told that Duggan and Gardiner had been seen taking items of property in and out of a vacant residence on Oak Grove Avenue at night.
He said further investigation revealed that the Oak Grove Avenue home was owned by an Oakley man, who later confirmed the home was supposed to be vacant and no one had permission to be there. Detectives informed the owner of the situation and obtained permission to search the home for stolen property.
On March 28, detectives searched the Oak Grove Avenue home and found evidence that it had been recently occupied. Bauman said their search revealed several items of property, some of which were confirmed stolen in at least two of the prior burglary cases.
Detectives subsequently contacted other burglary victims and confirmed other items of property found in the search were stolen in two other burglaries, he said.
On March 29, sheriff’s deputies working the Clearlake Oaks area located and detained Duggan and Gardiner near the Oak Grove Avenue home, Bauman said. Detectives responded to assist and both suspects were subsequently arrested.
Duggan’s Chevy pickup truck was impounded as it was also believed to contain stolen property. A search warrant for the truck was secured and detectives located two iPods in Duggan’s purse, inside of the truck. The iPods were seized as suspected stolen property, Bauman said.
Duggan and Gardiner, both of whom were listed as caregivers on their booking sheets, were booked at the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility, according to jail records.
Duggan was charged with receiving stolen property, with bail set at $10,000, and Gardiner was charged with first-degree burglary, with bail at $25,000. Both have since posted bail and been released.
As a result of the arrests, Bauman said four burglary cases have been closed, however the investigation continues.
The Sheriff’s Major Crimes Unit is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying other recovered property that has yet to be tied to any of the burglaries. Bauman said property items recovered that have yet to be identified include appliances, kitchen ware, computer equipment, power tools, jewelry and numerous DVDs.
The sheriff’s office also reminds the public to always record serial numbers and descriptive information for valuable items and keep such information in an inconspicuous place in the home.
Bauman said the information is essential for investigators to recover, identify and return stolen property to victims, and to apprehend and prosecute suspects.
Anyone who may be a burglary or theft victim, or who may have information relating to these burglaries, is encouraged to call Detective Sgt. John Gregore at 707-262-4200.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews , on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf and on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/LakeCoNews .
