Fresno man accused of burglarizing elderly couple's home

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- The Fresno County Sheriff's Office arrested 45-year-old Manuel Vasquez after they said he burglarized a home where he had previously worked as an in-home caregiver.

Shortly after 7 a.m. Friday, deputies said an elderly couple reported they had been awakened when someone entered their home through a back door -- which was unlocked -- on Columbia near Butler Avenue in Southeast Fresno. One of the victims told officers they pretended to be asleep and watched the suspect as he moved through the home. When the suspect left through the garage door, the victim locked the door behind him and called 911.

Investigators said several items had been stolen from the home including a computer, a handgun, jewelry, over $6,000 in cash, credit cards, and ATM cards. The victims identified Vasquez as a possible suspect. Detectives learned that Vasquez has been terminated from his job as an in-home caregiver several weeks ago.

Shortly after the investigation began, the Fresno Police Department responded to a domestic violence call at Vasquez's home in East Central Fresno. While police were at the home, they said they discovered several items of property related to burglary and called the Fresno Sheriff's Office.

Sheriff's detectives said they recovered most of the elderly victim's stolen property in the trunk of Vasquez' vehicle. They said Vasquez had already bought new tires and rims with the stolen money.

Vasquez was arrested and later booked into the Fresno County Jail on charges of burglary, elder abuse, possession of stolen property, credit card theft, and felon in possession of a firearm.