Burglary Suspect Apprehended Following Multi-Week Search in Lakeport
LAKE, CA – Deputies with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office arrested a 40-year-old Lakeport resident on Monday, March 30, 2026, following a series of burglary investigations. At approximately 9:20 a.m., law enforcement arrived at an apartment complex on Lakeshore Boulevard to conduct follow-up efforts to locate Matthew Wratislaw. Wratislaw was wanted on an outstanding misdemeanor warrant and had been identified as a suspect in several recent burglaries and a theft-of-utilities case.
During a search of the apartment grounds, deputies observed a rear sliding glass door partially ajar and a window with the screen removed on another unit. While no signs of forced entry were documented, these conditions suggested unauthorized access. After obtaining consent from the property owner to search the unoccupied units, deputies discovered evidence of recent habitation, including food and cooking supplies, inside a residence confirmed to be vacant.
The search concluded at a locked utility and laundry room at the rear of the complex. With the assistance of the property’s maintenance manager, deputies gained entry and located Wratislaw inside. He was detained and taken into custody without incident.
According to officials, Wratislaw waived his rights and informed deputies he had been residing in the utility room for about one month. He reportedly admitted to entering multiple units on the property without the owner’s permission. Wratislaw was booked into the Hill Road Correctional Facility on charges of felony burglary and the outstanding misdemeanor warrant. The investigation into the matter is ongoing.
