By BEN LUNDIN

Staff Reporter

LAPLACE – The St. John Sheriff’s Office is investigating a series of burglaries that police believe may have been committed by a trio of minors, who were arrested earlier this month for charges of simple burglary and criminal damage to property.

The three LaPlace males, ages 14, 15 and 16, were caught hiding in a closet of a home on Columbia Court they allegedly broke into on March 6th, after a neighbor reported seeing two of the boys jumping over a neighbor’s fence.

The boys entered the home through an unlocked sliding glass door on the rear of the building and became trapped after officers created a perimeter around the building at 7:51 a.m., according to the St. John Sheriff’s Office.

Because of their juvenile status police are not releasing the names of the boys, one of whom was found with credit cards stolen in a burglary the previous night, and all of whom were either suspended from school or did not attend school, according to the St. John Sheriff’s Office.

The 14-year-old wore a home monitoring bracelet, which he is ordered to carry as terms of his probation for a previous burglary.

Investigators at the St. John Sheriff’s Office believe the three may be part a burglary ring that hit numerous residences in the New Era and Sugar Ridge Subdivisions between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. over the course of the past two months, according to St. John Sheriff’s Office Spokesman Maj. Mike Tregre.

The burglars allegedly entered those homes by using open or unlocked sliding glass doors and windows at the rear of the buildings, then stole items such as jewelry, credit cards, loose change and video games to obtain money to buy and sell narcotics, according to the St. John Sheriff’s Office.

The 14 and 16-year-olds are being held in the St. James Parish Juvenile Detention Center. The 15 year-old is restricted to house arrest.

The St. John Sheriff’s Office asks residents to secure all windows and doors at their homes, and to report any information regarding the case by calling 985-652-9514. Detective Corporal Christie Murder is leading the active investigation.