Wednesday, Apr. 16, 2008

Turlock police arrest 3 teenagers in connection with Modesto burglary

Witness reports boys behaving suspiciously

Police arrested three 15-year-old boys in Turlock on Monday in connection with a burglary in Modesto earlier that morning, authorities reported.

About 12:20 p.m., Turlock police were called to the 1100 block of Sierra Drive when a neighbor reported three suspicious- looking teenagers nearby, including one who jumped a fence from an alley into a yard.

Several officers, including Ramon Godoy, who was riding a golf cart he uses to patrol Turlock High School, responded to the area, Sgt. Fin Johnson said.

A couple of the officers set up near Crane Park, between East Canal Drive and Yosemite Street. They stopped two of the teenagers in the park and detained them.

The teenager who had jumped over the Sierra Drive fence ran into the park trying to evade officers, police said, but stopped when he saw Godoy on the golf cart.

"The kid just gave up," Johnson said. "He ran south into the park and got himself arrested. He was still wearing his burglar gloves."

Police searched a gold Lincoln near the park that they determined was connected to the teenagers. They questioned a Denair man in his early 20s who appeared to be the Lincoln's driver, but he later was released, Johnson said.

In the car, officers found a case with a name and phone number on it, Johnson said. They called the number and reached a burglary victim who said the case had been stolen several hours earlier from his house in Modesto.

The teenagers were booked into Stanislaus County Juvenile Hall on one count each of burglary. They still were in custody Tuesday.

"This could be a prolific set of crooks who are committing crimes all over," Johnson said. "This is certainly that kind of crew. Jumping fences in the middle of the day, that's pretty bold."

Bee staff writer Emilie Raguso can be reached at eraguso@modbee.com or 578-2235.