Font ResizeLAS CRUCES - Seven boys have been criminally charged or are expected to be charged for burglaries after quick-thinking citizens called in their suspicious activities to police.
Blas Urrutia, 14, his brother Nestor Urrutia, 12, and Tristan Gomez, 13, were charged with residential burglary, conspiracy to commit a felony, evading an officer and felony larceny on Friday, according to Las Cruces Police Department officer Wallace Downs.
Police responded to Enzie Drive, near New Mexico State University, just before 10:30 a.m. Friday after a woman walking in the neighborhood reported seeing three Hispanic males, wearing baggy clothing, looking around in front of the apartment.
Officers discovered the apartment had been entered through the back door, which had been left unlocked and was easily accessible past a chain link fence.
Three boys who matched the description were located nearby and allegedly found in possession of drug paraphernalia and a miniature-sized bottle of rum - just the kind of bottle police found scattered throughout the ransacked apartment. One of the boys, under questioning, reportedly confessed to several burglaries he said he'd taken part in over the past six months, Downs said, and could face criminal charges once the investigation is complete.
As police processed the scene at Enzie Drive, Urrutias and Gomez were spotted in a nearby arroyo, but allegedly ran when they saw police, dropping a laptop computer and an Xbox, which were banged up in a rocky
The boys were taken to the police department, where they allegedly confessed to the burglary, which appears to have been committed for no reason, Downs said. A fourth boy, age 14, who was found with Gomez and the Urrutias, was deemed not to have been involved in the theft and was released without charges. In addition to the laptop computer and two Xbox systems, police recovered "skinny jeans and flashy shoes" Gomez and the Urrutias are alleged to have stolen from the college student who lived at the apartment, said Downs.
Downs applauded the resident who called in the initial report to police.
"We need citizens to be our eyes and ears because we can't be everywhere at once," Downs said. "This lady did a really good thing, calling us in. She was a little apprehensive, getting involved, but without her, this would have been an undetected crime until (the victim) got home. She did the right thing, spotting the suspicious activity and calling it in."
He added: "The more people that come forward, the more burglars we can catch."
For instance, on Thursday morning, another acquaintance of the boys was charged after a Las Cruces High School girl reported seeing him and another boy running from a student's car, Downs said. Jessie Rafael, 15, allegedly stole a bottle of cologne, a baseball hat, a skateboard, a Motorola Razr phone and an MP3 player adapter from two cars in the Frenger Park area, and allegedly was found hiding in a sewer drain, in possession of the hat, the adapter and the skateboard, according to the police report.
The Juvenile Probation Office did not authorize detaining the boys, who were released to their parents, said Downs, who said Rafael ended up running away from the Stepping Stones shelter the morning after he was charged.
"In cases where JPO does not authorize detention for non-violent felonies," he said, "it would be beneficial to have the delinquent child put on an ankle bracelet - immediately."
Police are asking for the public's assistance finding Rafael, who is described as white, 5-feet, 6-inches tall, with a thin build of about 140 pounds and bleached blond hair.
Ashley Meeks can be reached at (575) 541-5462
Protect your belongings
Not all auto or home burglaries are preventable, but police suggest the following tips:
•Park in a garage, driveway or well-lighted area.
•Close windows and lock doors.
•Remove valuables or at least keep them out of sight.
•Remove garage door remote-openers from your vehicles.
•Install and use an audible alarm system.
•Keep residential doors and windows locked when away from home.
•Utilize curtains, blinds or other window coverings to keep valuables - such as TVs, computers and other electronics - from being easily visible from outside.
•Properly secure sheds and outbuildings.
•Secure items that are sometimes left outdoors such as tools and trailers.
•Be a good neighbor and report suspicious activities in your neighborhood by calling 911 in an emergency or non-emergency dispatch at (575) 526-0795
Source: Las Cruces Police Department
