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Teen suspects charged in auto burglary string; victims aid police in arrests

By Staff

Three Cape Coral teenagers were arrested Thursday in connection to a series of auto burglaries after a victim helped locate the youths and others came to the scene to identify belongings they say were stolen, officials said.

The teens were charged with the following Thursday:

n Carlos Sosa, 15, of 1411 N.E. 2nd Avenue, three counts of unarmed burglary of an unoccupied conveyance and three counts of theft $300 or more but less than $5,000.

n Jone M. Perez, 16, of 1210 N.E. Juanita Place, six counts of unarmed burglary of an unoccupied conveyance, six counts of theft $300 or more but less than $5,000, armed burglary of a structure or conveyance and two counts of grand larceny of a firearm.

n John Remington Valdespino, 17, of 1227 S.E. 21st Street, four counts of unarmed burglary of an unoccupied conveyance, unarmed burglary of an unoccupied dwelling, six counts of theft $300 to under $5,000, property damage $200 and under, fraud and illegal credit card use.

Police are continuing to investigate what they suspect are related burglaries which took place on Feb. 23 and 24, and on April 3 in several Cape neighborhoods, officials said.

The teens were arrested at around 1:30 a.m. after police responded to a burglary call in the northwest Cape, said police spokesperson Dyan Lee. Responding officers spotted Perez, an auto owner and an unidentified female in a field near Northwest 11th Lane and Northwest 1st Place, she said.

The unnamed female said she was not an active participant in the burglaries, said Lee.

The auto owner reportedly told police he was driving around, looking for suspects after his car was burglarized, and spotted three juveniles in the field. He drove into the field to confront them when one of the teens, identified as Valdespino, fled, according to Lee.

Perez and the female remained to speak with the man.

Police found three gloves, a flashlight and a pillowcase containing items reported stolen and then identified by their owners.

Valdespino later returned to the scene and reportedly told police that he, Perez and Sosa stole items from about 40 unlocked vehicles. Sosa was not present but was later arrested at his home, said Lee.