While responding to a report of a prowler in the backyard of a home in the 3900 block of Weeping Willow Drive around 6 a.m., Moorpark patrol deputies found Michael Bennett in the front yard of a nearby residence.
After a brief investigation, deputies learned Bennett was the suspect at hand and had reportedly ran away after the homeowner saw him looking into the windows of the home with a flashlight.
Bennett was arrested for prowling and possession of a controlled substance.
Authorities discovered the suspect was also responsible for earlier break-ins in the Moorpark area Saturday morning shortly after. Moorpark deputies believe Bennett broke into two homes in the same area by reaching through pet doors and unlocking rear sliding glass doors. The property Bennett had stolen while the homeowners were sleeping was recovered.
The suspect was later linked to several other residences in the neighborhood that had also reported attempted burglaries.
Bennett was booked for charges of residential burglary, attempted residential burglary, possession of illegal drugs, and being under the influence of illegal drugs at the Ventura County Jail. He is being held on $250,000 bail.
