LAGUNA HILLS : Plumber Accused in Leisure World Thefts

Orange County sheriff’s deputies have arrested a Leisure World plumber on suspicion of burglarizing homes in the retirement community for more than a year.

Investigators said they suspect that Thomas Daly Norris, 49, used his access to make duplicate keys that enabled him to enter homes in the 21,000-resident complex.

Norris was arraigned in South Orange County Municipal Court this week on 12 counts of burglary and one count of possession of stolen goods. He was released Tuesday on $100,000 bail.

Norris, who lives in Orange, has worked at Leisure World for about 13 years, said Lt. Robert Rivas.

“As a plumber in the community, he certainly did have access,” Rivas said. “Who knows when he decided to start this?”

Norris has no previous criminal record, Rivas said.

Norris had called in sick and had asked another employee to look for his wallet in a work truck, Rivas said. The worker found credit cards and a business card that led police to an antique shop in Orange.

Police were in the store identifying possible stolen goods when Norris unexpectedly walked through the door, Rivas said. He was arrested without resistance.

Following the March 29 arrest, police used a search warrant to enter the man’s home and found antique jewelry, silver and other items that allegedly belong to Leisure World residents.

Rivas said that about $30,000 in stolen goods have been recovered.

“We’ve had a lot of calls from people about the merchandise so far,” he said.