SIMI VALLEY : 3 Teen-Agers Are Arrested in Burglary

Simi Valley police have arrested a 17-year-old youth and two of his friends on suspicion of burglarizing a relative of $200,000 worth of property from the family home.

The youth, who was not identified because of his age, was arrested by investigators Wednesday after he confessed to the residential burglary, police said. He also implicated 18-year-old William Green, of Tacoma, Wash., and another 17-year-old Simi Valley youth.

Detectives say the three waited until Sam Larp and his family left town on Saturday during the Memorial Day weekend to break into the house in the 5500 block of Shoshone Street.

They ransacked the house, taking 22 rifles and pistols from Larp’s gun collection, a laptop computer, several cameras, golf clubs, jewelry, rare coins and several thousand dollars in cash, police said.

“I’m in shock. I don’t know what to say,” said Larp, who owns a car dealership in Canoga Park. “I didn’t want to believe it.”

Larp said his relative, who was released into his custody pending a court hearing, has lived with the family for eight years.

Nearly all the stolen property was recovered hours after Larp reported the burglary Sunday morning because a homeowner a few miles away discovered the loot hidden in his side yard, police said.

The youth confessed after police confronted him, and surrendered one of the stolen pistols, Police Detective Joe Brimberry said.

The other 17-year-old suspect surrendered to police Thursday. He was cited for suspicion of burglary and released to the custody of his parents, pending a court hearing, Brimberry said.

Green, the third burglary suspect, was being held in lieu of $10,000 bail at Ventura County Jail on Thursday.

He is scheduled to be arraigned this morning.