Meridian Police investigators have arrested five juveniles and two men in connection with a rash of car burglaries that occurred in north Meridian over the past month.
“This theft ring was very well organized,” said Meridian Deputy Chief Tracy Basterrechea.
Police arrested the five juveniles, two females and two males -- ages 15 to 16 -- in the act of burglarizing vehicles at about 1:30 a.m. on May 12.
Four of the juveniles were arrested by officers in the act of committing several vehicle burglaries.
“Our street crimes team mapped out where the burglaries took place, then set up surveillance in those areas,” Basterrechea explained.
The adults arrested were identified as Isiah Salas, 19, and Casey Huston, 18, both of Meridian.
Salas is charged with grand theft by possession (a stolen gun) and Huston is charged with accessory to burglary (a vehicle), grand theft by possession (of two stolen guns) and residential burglary.
The juveniles face charges of burglary, accessory to criminal conspiracy, burglary, grand theft by possession, Basterrechea said
Police have recovered three handguns, two of which were confirmed stolen from local burglaries. Officers also recovered miscellaneous stolen items.
“We are continuing to work this case, and expect to make more arrests,” Basterrechea stated.
