At approximately 12:30 pm Friday, Fresno County Sheriff’s Office dispatchers were alerted to a tripped burglar alarm at a home. The house is located on the 6100 block of S. Valentine Ave., which is just west of Easton.
The responding deputy began to search the perimeter of the home. She later looked through a shattered window and saw a person inside the house. The deputy returned to her car and radioed for more units to respond. Moments later, the garage door rolled up and the engine to a car parked inside was started. The deputy confronted the suspect and ordered him to show his hands. He dropped the electronic items he was holding, which are presumed to have been taken from the house. The deputy ordered another young man, who was in the passenger seat, to get out of the car. The deputy instructed both to lie down on the ground. Additional Fresno Sheriff’s deputies and officers with the California Highway Patrol responded and helped take the two suspects into custody. A Fresno Police K9 Unit also came to the home. Dogs searched inside the house for other suspects, but no one else was found. The suspects caused significant damage to the interior of the home while ransacking it.
The two suspects are 15 and 16 years old. Detectives are working to see if these teenagers are involved in any other crimes, specifically burglaries which have occurred in the Easton area.
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office wants to highlight the role in which home alarm systems can play in terms of preventing crimes. In this case, the immediate notification of a security breach and quick response by a deputy saved a family from losing their valuables, including a car.
Anyone with information on this case is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office at (559) 600-3111 or Crime Stoppers at (559) 498-STOP (7867).
Additionally, the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office would like to offer the public some tips to avoid becoming targets / victims of thieves.
•Remove your garage door opener from your car if it is parked outside.
•Remove all valuable items from inside your vehicle if parked outside. (This is a big one!)
•Always lock doors and windows to your home and vehicle.
•Activate your home security system if one is installed.
•Keep your property well lit. You may consider purchasing motion activated lights, which help to deter criminal activity.
•Keep bushes and trees trimmed back to limit hiding places around your house. Criminals tend to hide in these bushes to gain entry into your home.
•Stay aware of activity in your neighborhood and report suspicious persons or suspicious activity to the Sheriff’s Office.
•If you go on vacation, do not publicize it (i.e. Facebook). Keep the circle of people you notify to a very small number.
•Before heading out of town, arrange for a trusted friend to retrieve your packages and newspapers upon delivery.
•Contact the Sheriff’s Office for a “House Check” if you live in the county limits and go on vacation. https://www.fresnosheriff.org/protect-yourself/crime-prevention/house-check.html
•Keep a record of serial numbers to items such as televisions, computers and tablets.
•Take photographs of your jewelry or unique items for reporting purposes.
•Get you know your neighbors. Exchange phone numbers and email addresses to stay informed.
•Join http://www.nextdoor.com and use the app to keep in touch with your neighbors. The Sheriff’s Office is a member of Nextdoor and utilizes it as a valuable tool to pass along important information to Fresno County residents. We are NOT permitted to read the neighborhood forums. We can only respond to messages and send out blanket information. We can also message the neighborhood “Leads.”
