Burglary Suspect, 13, Is Arrested
A 13-year-old boy suspected of committing 18 residential burglaries in a single neighborhood was arrested this week while trying to break into an apartment, police said Friday.
The boy, whose name was not released, was spotted by a police officer as he was climbing into the open window of an apartment in the 900 block of Valencia Street about 4 a.m. on Wednesday, said Cristina Hendricks,Costa Mesa community service officer.
Police said the boy tried to run after seeing the officer but he was caught by a second officer a few minutes later about a block from the apartment.
Hendricks said an investigation showed that the boy and another teen-age male, whose name was also not released, were suspects in the series of burglaries.
Police said the burglaries usually occurred while the residents were at home and were all in the area of Valencia Street and Mission, Mendoza and El Camino drives.
The teen-ager was taken to Orange County Juvenile Hall after the arrest, police said.
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