Two burglary suspects were caught and arrested before the crime had even been reported due to “citizen help and quick police action," St. Croix Police Chief James Parris said Thursday.
The suspects, Steven Malik Moore and Terrell Johnson, both 19, were charged with third degree burglary, grand larceny, possession of stolen property and trespass when they were arrested Tuesday.
According to the arresting officers, at about 1:15 p.m. they were dispatched to an area near the St. C Condominiums, where residents reported seeing two suspicious men walking in the area carrying bags. Officers located the two and found various items in their pants pockets including: Beats speakers, four cell phones, two watches, one digital camera and other jewelry.
K9 dogs also were deployed and led officers into the bushes, where bags containing an Xbox and a Sony Playstation were found.
Officers investigated the origin of the stolen items and located an area resident who told police she left her home at about 11 a.m. Tuesday and came back later that same day to find her home ransacked and several items missing. She was able to identify all of items recovered by police as items taken from her home.
Moore and Johnson were arrested about 2:30 p.m. the same day and held on $25,000 bail. They were remanded to the custody of the Golden Grove Adult Correctional Facility pending further court action.
