Santa Clarita / Antelope Valley : 2 Plead Guilty in 5-Month Series of Burglaries
Two of the four people suspected of being involved in a five-month smash-and-grab crime wave that hit about 80 Newhall businesses pleaded guilty to burglary-related charges this week.
Thomas Allen Pitchford, 28, of Newhall, pleaded guilty Thursday to two counts of burglary and is expected to be sentenced to a three-year term on May 26, according to the district attorney’s office in Newhall. The action came two days after Gilbert Noriega, 38, of Newhall, pleaded guilty to similar charges.
Also on Thursday, Javier Noriega, 27, also of Newhall, was charged with four counts of burglary and one charge of attempted burglary. He is scheduled to be arraigned on May 27.
Authorities say $50,000 worth of cash and property was taken and $30,000 in damage was caused between December and April in the crime wave.
Burglars used rocks, bricks or chunks of concrete to break the glass doors or windows of 80 Newhall businesses and took money, merchandise and sometimes cash registers.
A hearing is scheduled for June 15 for the fourth suspect in the case, Adrianne Donna Myers, 27, of Valencia, authorities said.
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