[StBernard] Burglary ring suspects nabbed, help sought identifying items

[Westley Annis]

Burglary ring suspects nabbed, help sought identifying items 
Advocate Florida parishes bureau 
Published: Jan 16, 2008 - Page: 4B 

SLIDELL - The St. Bernard and St. Tammany sheriff's offices have broken a
burglary ring accused of stealing tens of thousands of dollars in
construction equipment and household appliances, deputies reported Tuesday.

The ring was moving the stolen merchandise to Mexico and Mississippi for
sale. Investigators are seeking help in identifying recovered items,
deputies said in a news release.

The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office arrested seven men after searching a
house in the Slidell area Thursday and recovering more than $100,000 in
construction equipment and other items, deputies said.

St. Tammany deputies made those arrests after St. Bernard authorities
arrested a Slidell man whom they believe was the ring's middleman and a
Chalmette man they believe was the fence, said Maj. John Doran, St. Bernard
Parish Sheriff's Office chief of detectives.

Doran said the alleged middle man told authorities about the ring and
pointed out the home at 59217 Caroll Road, Slidell, where the seven men
lived and were arrested.

St. Tammany deputies believe much of the equipment was taken from
construction site trailers. Deputies also found appliances.

The seven Slidell men were shipping the appliances to St. Bernard and the
construction equipment to Mexico, said Capt. George Bonnett, St. Tammany
Parish Sheriff's Office spokesman.

Doran said the appliances were going to Mississippi. He said St. Bernard
deputies recovered stolen items worth more than $10,000.

The seven arrested men are Juventino Trejo, 43; Gustavo Lucio, 37; Alberto
Lopez, 19; Juan M. Lopez, 17; Juan A. Lopez, 23; Isidro Mendoza, 32; and
Jose Lopez, 21, the St. Tammany Parish statement shows.

They have been booked with possession of stolen property. The counts are
expected to number in the hundreds. Deputies have linked 12 St. Tammany
Parish burglaries to the ring so far, the statement shows.

Trejo and Lucio are in the country legally. The other five have immigration
holds on them, the statement shows.

Those wishing to recover stolen items are asked to call the St. Tammany
Parish Sheriff's Office at (985) 645-2466 or (985) 646-4163.