Santa hat-wearing package thief arrested after neighbors call Fresno police

A Fresno man wearing a red Santa hat was arrested Christmas Eve after neighbors caught him taking a recently delivered package off a doorstep.

Fresno police said they were called to the 3500 block of Yale Avenue. The caller told them a package had just been delivered to their neighbor’s home by UPS, then a man was seen pacing back and forth in front of the house.

The man, Thomas Sandoval, 25, walked up to the front of the home, grabbed the package and then left.

Police said the neighbors provided a detailed description of Sandoval. Officers found him nearby and noticed he appeared to be armed.

The officers searched Sandoval’s pockets and found a loaded .22 caliber revolver. He was arrested and booked into Fresno County Jail for firearm-related charges.

This story was originally published December 25, 2015 at 2:34 PM with the headline "Santa hat-wearing package thief arrested after neighbors call Fresno police."