By Mary O’KEEFE

A man suspected of being responsible for a string of wallet thefts in La Crescenta and La Cañada was arrested in Hollywood by Ventura County Sheriff detectives.

Adan Romero, 60, from Mexico was arrested on Oct. 14 after detectives executed a search warrant at his Hollywood home.

In recent weeks several wallets were stolen from purses in stores throughout Crescenta Valley. The victims’ had similar reports of placing their purses in the child seat of a shopping cart, then noticing their wallet missing.

“Victims had placed their wallets in the carts and turned their attention away. It only takes a minute and their wallets are gone,” said Sgt. Ray Harley, CV Sheriff’s Station.

“We had an incident in late August when a witness obtained a vehicle description and license plate number,” said Det. Daniel Blanck of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department. “Through that we were led to Romero’s residence.”

Detectives allegedly matched Romero with surveillance videos from some of the businesses, Blanck said. “The only areas we have [allegedly linked Romero to] were incidents in Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley,  Agua Dulce and Crescenta Valley,” he said.

Romero was arrested for burglary, financial elder abuse, grand and petty theft with prison priors. “He is a previously convicted felon and has been previously deported. In Thousand Oaks alone he is looking at about 25 felony counts and five misdemeanors,” Blanck said.

Romero remains in custody at the Ventura County jail on immigration hold. He is due in court on Oct. 26.