Alert Residents Help Nab Burglars

BY BRANDY TUZON BOYD
THE NATOMAS BUZZ | @natomasbuzz

Law enforcement officials are crediting alert neighbors for the arrest of three teenage boys suspected of burglarizing a Natomas home yesterday. 

Sacramento police spokesperson Laura Peck said it is too early to tell whether the burglary on Sunday is linked to several others in the area.

“It is a possibility that will be investigated,” Peck said.

At about 11:45 a.m. Sunday, a Natomas Park resident contacted Paladin Private Security to report a group of young people loitering in front of a home on the 3000 block of Maybrook Drive. A few minutes later, Paladin received reports the group split up – some staying in front of the home as possible “look outs.”

“This was an excellent case of resident-security-police collaboration,” said Matt Carroll, Paladin vice president of operations. “With the recent hits to the Police budget, this type of collaboration and community involvement is increasingly important.”

Neighbors then witnessed the boys walk away from the residence carrying a 40-inch flat-screen television set, DVD player, Xbox and other electronics and assumed they had just burglarized the house. When Paladin officers arrived to the home on Maybrook the suspects were gone, but the officer found the house’s side gate open, screens removed from its windows, and one window open with the blinds hanging out. The security officer noted the interior appeared ransacked and items missing from an entertainment center – confirming a burglary had occurred.

Meanwhile, Paladin and Sacramento Police received calls from witnesses who saw the suspects running to a home on Kalamer Street. Paladin officers identified the residence on Kalamer Street and positioned security officers around the perimeter until Sacramento police officers arrived.

“We’ve been asking the community to not only create Neighborhood Watch groups … but watch out for each other,” Peck said. “Know who is supposed to be in the neighborhood and call if see something unusual or suspicious.”

When police arrived, they made contact with suspects matching descriptions of those seen at the Maybrook Drive house, located stolen property and arrested three juveniles ages 16, 16 and 12.

Here’s a look at recent burglaries in Natomas Park:

• July 5 3 a.m. on 2500 block of Maybrook Drive: Vehicle burglarized.
• July 6 11:30 a.m. on 300 block of Mahonia: Residence burglarized.
• July 7 10 p.m. on 2500 block of Maybrook Drive: Residence burglarized.
• July 13 at 1 p.m. on Vestry Court: Burglary attempt on home.Suspects removed screens and attempted to break a window to gain access to the home.
• July 13 between 12 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. on Sherington Way: Residence burglarized. Suspects pried rear window of home open and stole a Wii, television set, iPod and more electronics.
• July 13 at 3:26 p.m. North Park Drive & Loganberry Court: Witness observed several suspects carrying flat screen televisions from a residence. The suspects fled in a Ford Explorer.