SOUTH PASADENA — The death of a 51-year-old man in his South Pasadena home appears to be due to natural causes, officials said Sunday, however police are now investigating a subsequent burglary in which someone stole items from the dead man’s home including his car and his dog.

Miguel Santamaria was discovered by a friend unresponsive and bloody and soon pronounced dead by paramedics shortly after noon May 21 at his home in the 1600 block of Amberwood Drive, according to South Pasadena police and Los Angeles County Coroner’s officials. His cause of death was not immediately apparent, so police and coroner’s officials launched an investigation.

Though coroner’s officials said an officials cause of death remained deferred Sunday pending additional test results, “Detectives have received preliminary information from the LA County Coroner’s Office that the death of Miguel Santamaria at his residence… was a result of natural causes,” South Pasadena police officials said in a written statement.

But as one investigation draws to a close on Amberwood Drive, a new one is beginning into a burglar or burglars who apparently saw opportunity in Santamaria’s death.

His car, cell phone, wallet, laptop computers and even his dog were taken in a burglary at at unknown point following his death, South Pasadena police Sgt. Tony Abdalla said.

“His dog has since been found in the City of Downey,” the sergeant said. The animal showed up at a shelter, though it was not immediately clear where and how it was found.

There were no signs of forced entry at the home, he said, however it was unclear Sunday how the intruder or intruders gained access.

Santamaria’s missing car is a green, 2001 Honda Civic, with a California license plate of 4PIM316, Abdalla said.

Anyone with information is asked to contact South Pasadena Police Detective Bill Earley at 626-318-5552.