Three teens charged with breaking into businesses

Three teenagers believed to have robbed three businesses on West Olive Avenue are in custody, the Porterville Police Department reported. On February 22, 2018, At approximately 3:35 a.m. Thursday, an officer with the Porterville Police Department was driving in the area of BR’S Food Mart, 284 W. Olive Ave., when he noticed two suspicious subjects on the property, which was closed for business.

When the officer attempted to contact the two subjects, they both fled on foot from the immediate area. Additional PPD officers arrived on scene and began checking the surrounding area.

During this time, one of the officers noticed a subject attempting to conceal himself inside the enclosed storage area of the business. Officers entered the storage area and arrested the subject after a brief struggle ensued. This suspect was identified as 15 year old male from Porterville.

During the investigation, officers discovered entry into the storage area was made via force and stolen property from the business was located nearby. The property was recovered and returned to the business owner.

Officers were also able to confirm that the two subjects initially observed running from the vicinity were also involved in the burglary. Officers continued checking the immediate area with the assistance of a PPD K9 and the two suspects were located hiding in the backyard of a nearby residence.

As officers were initiating contact, one of the suspects again fled on foot, but was located shortly thereafter and arrested without incident. These two suspects were identified as a 13 year old male and a 14 year old male, both of Porterville.

During further investigation, officers located evidence that linked the three suspects to two additional burglaries at nearby businesses — Frank’s Stop and Go and El Gallito — and officers recovered additional stolen property, which was returned to those business owners. Officers also discovered that the suspects had vandalized the interior of one of the businesses with a marker and the 14 year old was found to have a felony warrant for his arrest.

The three juvenile suspects were transported to Visalia and booked into the custody of the Tulare County Juvenile Detention Facility on suspicion of burglary, resisting arrest, vandalism and felony arrest warant.