A 17-year-old male Thomian was arrested Thursday after detectives found him in possession of a large amount of stolen items, marijuana and a firearm, the V.I. Police Department reported.
Homeowners from at least three residences called police Thursday to report their homes had been burglarized. The homeowners identified the items police found in the minor’s possession as belonging to them.
The arrest took place when detectives from the department’s Juvenile Bureau were making a check of areas in Nordsidevej and saw a male individual acting suspiciously, carrying a duffle bag and a box. The officers made a further inspection and found the minor was carrying electronic equipment including an iPad, laptop computer and a Play Station. He also had jewelry, 14 small bags of marijuana packaged for sale and a 9 mm semi automatic handgun.
The minor was arrested, taken to the police station and charged with two counts of third-degree burglary, possession of an unlicensed firearm, and grand larceny. Detectives said while they were processing the minor’s arrest they received three calls from homeowners who reported that when they came home they discovered that their home was broken into and their possessions were stolen.
The homeowners identified several of the items that were found in the possession of the arrested minor.
A check of the firearm by the Firearms Bureau revealed that the weapon found in the minor’s possession is the same weapon an owner reported stolen from his home in Savan on April 8.
Detectives said the same minor was also wanted for a break-in to a vehicle that occurred March 23 in the parking lot of the Addelita Cancryn Junior High School. Police said the minor was positively identified as the person who broke a car’s window and took an Apple iPad. He was also charged with destruction of property and another count of possession of stolen property.
The case is being followed up by the Criminal Investigation and Juvenile Bureau detectives.
