A quick-thinking resident who called police after noticing a pair of suspicious men in his neighborhood in the early hours of the morning helped police capture two burglars, authorities said Monday.
The incident began at about 2 a.m. Saturday when a resident in the 2700 block of Daisy Avenue, near Spring Street, was awakened by his barking dog and spied a pair of teens with hoods drawn over their heads lurking in the neighborhood, said Sgt. Dina Zapalski, a Long Beach Police Department spokeswoman.
Patrol officers sent to area found two 19-year-olds matching the suspects' descriptions and detained the pair, Zapalski said.
Police also found a number of stolen items, including jewelry, iPods, sunglasses and other items typically found in cars, she said.
The officers were able to track some of the items back to the victims and return their property, Zapalski said.
Investigators believe the two could be linked to other break-ins in the area, the sergeant said.
Zapalski credited the conscientious resident for not only paying attention to what was going on in his neighborhood but for also alerting police.
"If (suspects) see a police car patrolling they'll just run, so that's why we need citizens to keep an eye out too," she said.
The sergeant noted that the investigation found most of the victims had their property stolen from vehicles left unlocked. The neighborhood has been hit hard recently by car break-ins and vehicle thefts, prompting police to remind residents they must take precautions to avoid becoming victims of such crimes.
"These were two young kids who need money... they're looking for these opportunities," Zapalski said. "Citizens need to remember to lock their vehicles at all times and not to leave their valuables in plain view."
Arrested were Joshua Harris and Lorenzo Clark, both 19 and both of Long Beach.
Harris was arrested on suspicion of grand theft, conspiracy to commit a crime and tampering with a vehicle and was being held on more than $20,000 bail Monday.
Clark was arrested on the same counts as well as counts of receiving stolen property, probation violation and for two outstanding warrants, Zapalski said.
"Clark was on probation for burglary at the time of his arrest," she said.
Clark's bail was also listed at more than $20,500.
Both he and Harris are scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday afternoon at the Long Beach Superior Court.
The incident began at about 2 a.m. Saturday when a resident in the 2700 block of Daisy Avenue, near Spring Street, was awakened by his barking dog and spied a pair of teens with hoods drawn over their heads lurking in the neighborhood, said Sgt. Dina Zapalski, a Long Beach Police Department spokeswoman.
Patrol officers sent to area found two 19-year-olds matching the suspects' descriptions and detained the pair, Zapalski said.
Police also found a number of stolen items, including jewelry, iPods, sunglasses and other items typically found in cars, she said.
The officers were able to track some of the items back to the victims and return their property, Zapalski said.
Investigators believe the two could be linked to other break-ins in the area, the sergeant said.
Zapalski credited the conscientious resident for not only paying attention to what was going on in his neighborhood but for also alerting police.
"If (suspects) see a police car patrolling they'll just run, so that's why we need citizens to keep an eye out too," she said.
The sergeant noted that the investigation found most of the victims had their property stolen from vehicles left unlocked. The neighborhood has been hit hard recently by car break-ins and vehicle thefts, prompting police to remind residents they must take precautions to avoid becoming victims of such crimes.
"These were two young kids who need money... they're looking for these opportunities," Zapalski said. "Citizens need to remember to lock their vehicles at all times and not to leave their valuables in plain view."
Arrested were Joshua Harris and Lorenzo Clark, both 19 and both of Long Beach.
Harris was arrested on suspicion of grand theft, conspiracy to commit a crime and tampering with a vehicle and was being held on more than $20,000 bail Monday.
Clark was arrested on the same counts as well as counts of receiving stolen property, probation violation and for two outstanding warrants, Zapalski said.
"Clark was on probation for burglary at the time of his arrest," she said.
Clark's bail was also listed at more than $20,500.
Both he and Harris are scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday afternoon at the Long Beach Superior Court.
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