Residents help nab burglary suspects

Four suspected burglars were arrested after Plumas Lake residents did just what the Yuba County Sheriff's Department asked: Watch out for your neighbors.

When Bidwell Bar Drive neighbors saw four teenage burglars breaking into a home Saturday, they detained two and gave a vehicle description and license plate number to deputies, leading to the arrest of all four suspects, department spokeswoman Melanie Oakes said.

The four are believed responsible for three or four home burglaries in Plumas Lake on April 5, 6 and 12, said Oakes.

Their strategy was simple: Knock on a door on the pretext of looking for someone, then gain entry if no one's home, she said.

On Saturday, neighbors saw the four teenagers go into a garage and began yelling at them. That was enough to intimidate two of the suspects, who did not run. The other two fled but were arrested the same day, she said.

One of the suspects is a 17-year-old from Olivehurst and the other three — ages 14, 15 and 16, are from Yuba City. None of their names was released because of their ages.

All were booked into Bi-County Juvenile Hall.

Searches of all the suspects' residences turned up items from at least three Plumas Lake burglaries.

"Additional property is still missing, and the Sheriff's Department is working with other Yuba-Sutter law enforcement agencies to determine if the suspects are involved in other similar crimes," she said.

Unoccupied homes, often the result of foreclosure, also are being targeted by burglars who take appliances or commit vandalism, she said.

No statistics were immediately available on how many Plumas Lake houses have been burglarized this year.

Car burglaries were the reason behind a recent Sheriff's Department town hall meeting. Lt. Damon Gil advised residents not to keep valuables in their cars, keep porch lights on and to establish Neighborhood Watch groups.

"We are finding out that these perpetrators are becoming more brazen," Gil said.

Patrols have been increased, especially during peak crime hours, he said.

Contact Appeal-Democrat reporter Rob Young at 749-4710 or at ryoung@appealdemocrat.com