Police: TX teens burglarize 30 cars

BURNET, Texas (KXAN) - Burnet authorities are continuing their investigation into a string of 30 car burglaries that occurred during the weekend in the Delaware Springs and Ranch at Delaware Creek neighborhoods.

Police said they have identified four male suspects whom they believe entered the cars through unlocked doors or smashed in windows, then stole computers, speakers, IPods, purses, radios, money and two guns.

Police believe the teen burglars were at a party in the neighborhood on Saturday night into early Sunday morning and alcohol played in a role in the overnight burglaries.

"They had some alcohol in their systems and decided to go break into vehicles," explained Burnet Police Chief Paul Nelson.  "There really is no good reason why."

State troopers helped search a creek in the Delaware Springs neighborhood Tuesday morning.  Metal detectors were used to try and locate the weapons.

One of the stolen pistols was found.

"None of them are talking about the second weapon.  If kids at that party know something...they need to come forward and get the information back to us.  We can go get it, everything will be okay, as long as that gun doesn't get into the hands of somebody who shouldn't have a weapon," Nelson added.

Other stolen items were found at one suspect's home.

Bob Jones, who lives in the area, had a loaded gun in his truck the night it was broken into, but the teens did not take it. Instead, they took binoculars and a digital air gauge.

"The driver's side door had been tore off, broken into, apparently with some kind of a pry bar," said Jones. "I'll have to have the door repainted."

Jones's truck has an estimated $1,000 worth of damage.  It is undergoing repairs and getting detailed.

"I couldn't vacuum up all the glass," Jones said.

Jones, along with other burglary victims, also found blood in his truck.

"I offered a blood sample to police, but they said they had blood in other cars too," Jones added.

Nelson told KXAN those DNA samples were collected, as well as samples from all four suspects, and have been sent to a lab for comparison.

All of the cars were also dusted for fingerprints.

Jones believes the teens are lucking to just be facing arrest and not the barrel of his gun.

"I have guns here in the house and if I had caught them out there and known they had had my gun, or even thought it, it could have been a very serious situation.  That is what these kids don't realize," Jones said.

Nelson expects all four teens to be arrested by week's end.  He said officers are just waiting on arrest warrants to be written up.

Anyone who attended the party and who may have information regarding the suspects or crimes are encouraged to call Burnet Police Chief Paul Nelson at (512) 756-6404 or police dispatch at (512) 756-8080.