Teenage boy among trio suspected of attempted burglary in Ripon

Alert action by a fire chief and a resident Friday helped police in Ripon arrest three attempted burglary suspects, one a 15-year-old, authorities said.

Chief Dennis Bitters of the Ripon Consolidated Fire District saw what he described as three “suspicious” men in a vehicle just after 9 a.m.

He immediately called police and gave a description of the men and the vehicle, according to Lt. Steve Merchant, spokesman for the Ripon Police Department. A resident also reported seeing the suspects entering the back yard of a home in the 900 block of Cooper Court just south of Mavis Stouffer Park.

Officers showed up within minutes and stopped the vehicle as it was leaving the neighborhood.

The driver had a suspended license. A ski mask and drug paraphernalia were observed in the vehicle. A search unveiled concentrated cannabis and burglary tools.

Joseph Oliva, 18, of San Jose, and Garrett Mathew Sena, 19, of Oakdale, were booked into San Joaquin County Jail on a series of charges including attempted burglary, possession of burglary tools and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Oliva also received a drug charge.

A teenage boy from San Jose was booked into San Joaquin County Juvenile Hall on charges including attempted burglary, possession of burglary tools and conspiracy.

This story was originally published April 22, 2016 at 9:49 PM with the headline "Teenage boy among trio suspected of attempted burglary in Ripon."