VISTA (CNS) - A Vista man who was allegedly linked to an early morning Christmas burglary at a Westlake Village home in Los Angeles County through the "pinging" of an iPad pleaded not guilty Wednesday to three felony counts.
Patrick Krewson, 20, pleaded not guilty in Van Nuys Superior Court to one count each of first-degree burglary with a person present, grand theft of personal property and forgery.
Krewson was ordered to remain jailed in lieu of $70,000 bail pending his next court appearance Jan. 10.
Krewson is also expected to face charges in San Diego County in connection with a Dec. 22 burglary in Vista, police said.
Krewson was arrested on Christmas Day after the iPad's owner called the Malibu/Lost Hills sheriff's station and told deputies that his iPad was 'pinging' from a nearby home, according to sheriff's Lt. James Royal.
The Westlake Village man was awakened about 3:30 a.m. Sunday by the sound of a burglar in his house in the 4000 block of Whitesail Circle. He confronted the intruder and chased him a short distance before losing sight of the suspect, Royal said.
Two flat-screen televisions, a laptop computer and more than 40 Christmas gifts were taken during that burglary, according to Royal. Police found all of the stolen property from that burglary during a search of Krewson's home in Vista, he said.
"When Malibu/Lost Hills deputies notified the Vista victim that her Christmas presents had been located in time to give them to the children for Christmas, she began to cry," Royal said.
If convicted in the Los Angeles County case, Krewson faces up to six years and eight months in state prison.
