|
Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Friday, August 24, 2007
Police, deputies probe burglary, vandalism cases
Pecos Police and the Reeves County Sheriff’s Department were busy Thursday morning investigating a series of vandalism incidents across town, including three that involved break-ins and burglaries.
At least four businesses had windows broken sometime early Thursday morning, according to police. The four businesses were Terrazas Drive at Eddy and Adams streets, Pizza Hut on South Cedar Street, Texas Gas Service, one block away on South Oak Street, and at the dental office of Dr. Mike Pharoah at Second and Cypress streets. Entry was gained to all the businesses except for Pizza Hut, according to Pecos Police Capt. Kelly Davis.
“Money was taken at Dr. Pharoah’s and Terrazas,” Davis said. He added that he had not yet had time to check with Texas Gas Service to see if they had any items or money taken from their building.
At Terrazas, the front door facing away from Eddy Street was broken out to get into the restaurant’s foyer, and then the door glass into the main part of the building was also broken out to gain entry.
“They stole some loose change and some stereo equipment,” said Kris Terrazas. “Police inside found some shoe prints and they’re checking for fingerprints, because he messed with both cash registers.”
He said a brick apparently was used to break out the door windows, and sheriff’s deputies were also examining it for fingerprints.
Windows were broken out at the other two sites to gain entry, but Davis said early Thursday afternoon, “We don’t know what was used on the other ones. Right now, all I know is a brick was used at Terrazas.”
Kris Terrazas said no food was taken from the restaurant, and a laptop computer inside also was not touched by the burglars.
Davis said a small amount of cash also was stolen from Dr. Pharoah’s office, and possible a roll of stamps that was near the cash.
At Pizza Hut, store manager Marina Guerra said “Only the door was broken, and did not shatter all the way through.” The store was able to get the door glass replaced before it opened for lunchtime business on Thursday.
Davis said that while the series of attacks in one night was unusual, “We’ve just had a lot of burglaries recently, and we’ve already arrested four people.”
Three of those were juveniles, Davis said, including two 11-year-olds who were taken into custody for a residential burglary on Aug. 16. Police said in that case, a home at 816 S. Palm St., was burglarized along with an adjacent apartment. Several windows were broken out and the inside of the apartment had been spray-painted.
Arresting officer Juan Prieto said jewelry, clothing and other items were taken from the two locations, some of which were recovered when the 11-year-olds were arrested. Both have since been sent to the Pecos County Juvenile Detention Facility in Fort Stockton.
Davis said they weren’t sure why the four locations on Thursday were targeted, but added, “We’re thinking it’s one person, or one group.”
He said officers also couldn’t say as of Thursday if the latest incidents were connected with juveniles or with adults, based on the earlier incidents. “It’s kind of hard to say. Some of them have been juveniles, and some of the others have been drug-related.”
Crimestoppers seeks to locate illegal dumpers
Pecos Valley Crime Stoppers, Reeves County Sheriffs Office, and the Pecos Police Department need the community’s help in solving several crimes.
Recently there has been a lot of illegal dumping on our county roads, said Pecos Police Officer Mike Balog. Also there has been a lot of burglary of motor vehicles, usually those left with their doors unlocked.
“Please help us make our community cleaner and safer by putting these criminals behind bars,” said Balog.
If anyone has any any information about these crimes, or any other crimes please call Crime Stoppers at 445-9898.
As always you will remain anonymous and your tips could be worth up to a $1,000 cash reward, according to Balog.
“There is no caller I.D. on this line. Thank you for your help!,” said Balog.
Pecos Enterprise
York M. "Smokey" Briggs, Publisher
324 S. Cedar St., Pecos, TX 79772
Phone 432-445-5475, FAX 432-445-4321
e-mail news@pecos.net
Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium.
Copyright 2003-04 by Pecos Enterprise
|
