Authorities in Lake Tahoe are on the lookout for a clumsy burglar who made the unfortunate mistake of leaving his wallet behind while committing a crime. This unusual event unfolded when he brazenly entered a residence, enjoyed a meal from the homeowner’s kitchen, and decided to leave wearing the owner’s hat and shirt.
According to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, the homeowner returned to his Lake Tahoe abode on June 5, after a three-week vacation, only to find signs of unauthorized entry. Among the startling discoveries was a wallet and a Visa debit card, both linked to a man named Clarence Zillman. The burglary left the homeowner with items misplaced and his birth certificate mysteriously absent.
Sheriff’s deputies have described the situation as one of “unlawful occupation,” signaling the intruder’s extended stay and bold actions.
Further evidence against the suspected squatter emerged when surveillance footage captured him confidently exiting a Safeway store. In a bizarre twist, the man was caught on camera flagrantly flaunting the stolen outfit he had acquired from the home he had invaded.
The peculiar video depicts the suspect leaving a Safeway located at the Round Hill Shopping Center in Zephyr Cove, situated on Lake Tahoe’s scenic south shore. He was unmistakably dressed in the victim’s clothing, an unfortunate fashion statement that only added to the burglary’s unusual narrative, as noted by the authorities.
Police tracked him to Safeway because a receipt for the purchase of two packs of Camel cigarettes was found at the scene. Investigators believe the receipt is linked to the man in the surveillance video.
The homeowner’s shirt was recovered at the scene, but his hat remains missing.
The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office in Nevada is asking for the public’s help in identifying the man, who is a person of interest in the case.
The investigation remains ongoing as of July 9.
The DCSO urges anyone with information to contact Investigator JT Davis at the Stateline Office at 775-586-7253.