[StBernard] Three teens arrested in 20 St. Bernard car burglaries Wednesday

[Westley Annis]

Three teens arrested in 20 St. Bernard car burglaries Wednesday

wwltv.com

Posted on January 25, 2012 at 5:19 PM

MERAUX, La. - Deputies in St. Bernard Parish arrested one man and two
15-year-olds in connection with a series of 20 car burglaries that occurred
Wednesday morning in the Meraux area.

Sheriff's Office spokesman Steve Cannizaro said the office began receiving
reports of car burglaries around 3 a.m. He said patrol deputies, alerted by
a resident who had been the victim of an attempted theft, tracked down and
arrested the three teens around 6:45 a.m.

Darnell Benjamin, 18, and the two 15-year-olds were taken into custody. One
of those arrested had a home incarceration electronic device on one ankle.

Deputies said they recovered a stash of stolen property including two rifles
and scopes, a cross bow, $430, jewelry and other items.

Benjamin was booked with burglary, possession of stolen property, attempted
theft, contributing to the delinquency of the other two and with
misrepresenting himself by giving a false name in Parish Prison when
initially booked, Pohlmann said.

Sheriff's detectives, following up on the arrests, were investigating ties
to a recent rash of more than 15 thefts of 4-wheelers in St. Bernard, which
authorities believe involve young people from eastern New Orleans, where
intelligence suggests the vehicles were transported, Pohlmann said.