Hermosa Beach Police, in conjunction with the auto prevention task force of the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department, arrested and charged a 21-year-old transient on 21 felony counts of burglary, forgery and fraud Sept. 15.

Although a transient, Robert Thompson frequents the city of Los Angeles and officers arrested him near the Quality Inn Hotel in Hermosa Beach at 901 Aviation Blvd.

According to Hermosa Beach Det. Brian Smyth, at approximately 7:30 p.m. Hermosa Beach Police Officer George Brunn responded to a call of a stolen 2003 Audi reported by the owner. The owner installed the LOJACK system in the car and Brunn found the car in the hotel parking lot.

“These systems are outstanding in that they basically lead you right to the vehicle,” said Smyth. “Officer Brunn then notified a Hermosa Beach department detective currently assigned to Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department’s TRAP – Task force for Regional Autotheft Prevention. TRAP is a multiagency task force assembled to target auto theft rings operating in and around Los Angeles County.”

According to Smyth, the Hermosa Beach detective assembled the TRAP team and arrived at the scene. Soon after, Thompson left in the stolen car from the hotel where he purchased a room. Hermosa Beach Police officers and TRAP stopped Thompson near the hotel where they arrested him.

“Stolen property and methamphetamines were recovered from the suspect,” added Smyth. “Upon learning that Thompson had rented a room at the Quality Inn, Officer Brunn assisted the TRAP teams in a search of Thompson’s room.”

Officers found electronics, jewelry and the personal information – Social Security numbers, names and other documentation – of victims he allegedly burglarized.

“During the search, Brunn recognized property that was linked to a burglary that occurred in the hotel lobby earlier that same day,” said Smyth. “Officers recovered stolen property from more than a dozen victims.”

According to Smyth, police charged Thompson with 21 felony counts that consisted of various charges including home and car burglaries in the cities of Torrance, Redondo Beach and Hermosa Beach. The fraud and forgery charges came after the discovery of personal information of Thompson’s victims often used in identity theft crimes.

Both the Torrance Police Department and the Hermosa Beach Police Department charged Thompson with burglary and the court set his bail for $480,000. Thompson is currently awaiting his next court date at the Los Angeles County Men’s Central Jail in Los Angeles.

“At Thompson’s preliminary hearing, TRAP’s lead investigator presented evidence to support the 21 counts filed on numerous charges,” said Smyth. “Thompson was held to answer on all charges.”

Thompson appeared in court Nov. 12 and will appear in court again Dec. 9 where he will enter his plea.