In three separate incidents, Douglas police arrested two juveniles and one adult in connection with burglaries.

Christopher Robles, 31, was arrested for residential burglary, a class 4 felony. Robles is connected to a robbery at the 900 block of 11th Street that occurred Dec. 28 or 29.

One of the investigating officers had made contact with three individuals in the area at about 4:00 a.m. on Dec. 28, 2008.  The officer had also noticed several suspicious items in the back of a pickup truck, said Marcus Gonzalez, spokesman for the Douglas Police Department.

Police suspected a burglary had taken place, but had no way of determining that at that time.  One of the male subjects claimed the property was his.  Police identified all three subjects with whom they made contact with, Gonzalez said.

Upon the report of the burglary, police again made contact with the three subjects found at the residence the night before.

Robles was transported to the Cochise County jail.  Police recovered most of the stolen property at a residence near the location of the burglary.  The investigation is continuing.

On Dec. 29, 2008, police investigated a separate, unrelated burglary at the 2800 block of 8th St.  Police found shoe prints leading away from the residence toward the desert area.  Police, with the assistance of Arizona Department of Corrections K-9 tracking units, followed the tracks to an apartment at the Sundance Apartment Complex on 2701 6th St. 

Police later found a male juvenile in a nearby alleyway whose shoe prints matched the shoe prints found at the scene.  Police were able to link this juvenile to the burglary, along with a juvenile that resides at the apartment complex, Gonzalez said. 

Police arrested both juveniles for their involvement in the burglary.  Police recovered most of the stolen property at an apartment in the Sundance Apartment Complex.  The investigation is continuing. The names of the juveniles were not released.

On Dec. 29, 2008, in an unrelated burglary, in progress at the Summer Crossings Apartment Complex (1301 Florida Avenue).  Police were advised that the resident was able to drive away the suspect during the theft.  Police were then advised that the male suspect was last seen running from the location. 

Police were able to apprehend a male juvenile near the area, on Florida Avenue, matching the description provided by the victims.  Police later determined that the juvenile was, in fact, the suspect of the attempted theft.  Police arrested the juvenile for attempted theft. The name was not released by the Douglas Police Department, he said.

Douglas Police have recently been more successful in deterring burglaries and thefts.  In those cases when the theft or burglary occurs, police work diligently to solve the case and recover as much property as possible. 

“Time is a major factor in solving these crimes.  The faster the incident is reported, the better the chance of arresting the suspects and recovering the stolen property,” Gonzalez said.

  Police attribute their recent success to higher public involvement and an increase in force to the police department, which results in more routine patrols.  Police now have more sets of highly trained and experienced eyes patrolling the streets of Douglas, resulting in reduced crime, he said.

“When a crime is reported, police will diligently strive to solve the crime and bring the perpetrators to justice,” he said.