Man accused of breaking into cars during family member's funeral

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- It's not your average funeral behavior. Witnesses say the thief's grief forced him to break into parked cars outside a funeral home in Downtown Fresno.

Shattered glass was still on the ground Friday outside Reade and Sons Funeral Home near Mariposa and E Street. For the people who work there, it was another day on the job. They were helping a family grieve, helping put a loved one to rest, when someone saw a man climbing in and out of cars in the parking lot.

Irene Reade with the funeral home rushed outside and then says she realized the suspect was also a grieving family member.

"He was here to visit someone so you don't expect...no I've never had anyone break windows, break in during a funeral, with all the other family members; they were all here," said Reade.

Police say he is Anthony Palomino. He was just arrested for the crime, and detectives say he admitted to it and expressed frustration that his own family members would press charges against him.

Investigators say Reade wasn't his only victim; he also broke into his uncle's car.

"The family says, 'well he's upset,'" said Reade. "Then one of the guys that works here says, 'OK if he was upset, punched a hole in the window or something.' But this guy was banging three cars and stealing."

It's the type of crime that even baffles police. Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer says Palomino is known to have a drug problem.

"Difficult to ever be able to figure somebody out like that," said Dyer. "We know that he's no doubt addicted to methamphetamine and trying to support that habit."

Detectives also tell Action News Palomino was spotted overnight. When arrested, he told police when he's not working, he's stealing.

Palomino was booked into the Fresno County Jail. He's facing seven different burglary charges and is also accused of breaking into other area businesses.