3rd Burglary at Clothing Plant Foiled : Crime: As with previous break-ins, suspect is found and quickly arrested. Portable sewing machines are apparently the lure.

For the third time in five months, burglars punched through the wall of a bottled-water company to get to a clothing manufacturing plant, an owner said Thursday.

Police, who arrested one suspect, said the thieves probably sought the portable sewing machines used by B & T Manufacturing in the 11550 block of Salinaz Drive.

Ken Behm, vice president of Paradise Drinking Water next door, said the burglars cut through his aluminum back door to enter the building Wednesday night. It is difficult to break directly into the women’s wear clothing company because of its steel gates, he said.

“They never want any of my things,” said Ken Behm, gesturing at the warehouse filled with water bottles and, at night, with delivery trucks. “They’re always after his sewing machines.”

When burglars broke in last October, they smashed Behm’s front glass door; two months later, they sliced and pulled open the back door after the company installed another alarm system in the front. Both times, the burglars were caught immediately, Behm said.

Police said they received a call from the businesses’ security company at 11:36 p.m. When they arrived at the clothing factory, they found a hole in the wall, leading to Behm’s warehouse.

The burglars had tried to break through the plasterboard wall in one area but had given up after hitting plywood, Behm said. Only a few yards away, they tried again and entered, tripping a silent alarm.

A police dog discovered a man, who was unarmed, hiding in the warehouse bathroom. Jesus Ramos Cortez, 19, of Los Angeles was arrested on suspicion of commercial burglary and auto theft. Police said they found a 1979 Ford van, stolen from a Los Angeles address, outside the building.

Cortez suffered a minor wound when the police dog bit him in the arm.

Police said they believe that he may have had an accomplice and are investigating.