Suspect sought for burglaries in Philadelphia and multiple suburbs arrested

LOWER MERION TWP., Pa. (WPVI) -- The suspect wanted for a series of burglaries in Philadelphia and communities in the suburbs has been arrested.

Erik Gomez, 39, formerly of Levittown, was arrested on Dec. 7, police announced Friday.

The suspect was caught on surveillance video a number of times, including on the day before Thanksgiving while breaking into a home in Gladwyne.

Lower Merion Twp. police were notified, and as the investigation unfolded it became clear that this was not an isolated case.

Over the next several days, investigators gathered reports of a similar-looking man, usually wearing red gloves, breaking into homes in the Roxborough and Fishtown sections of Philadelphia and in Media, Delaware County.

In the Fishtown case, the suspect was recorded smashing a window in the home of Alice Thomas.

She quickly took a video and posted it on Facebook. That decision quickly paid dividends.

"Through people commenting and leaving tips, we were able to figure out who he is, and sent all that information to the police," Thomas said.

Fortunately, the suspect fled the scene before entering Alice's house.