By Monique Roth
L’Observateur

HAHNVILLE — Four 17-year-old suspects were arrested Monday in connection with 15 burglaries of unlocked vehicles over the weekend in St. Charles Parish.

“These quick apprehensions occurred due to the vigilance and determination of patrol deputies, as well as the thorough and efficient follow up of our investigations division,” St. Charles Parish Sheriff Greg Champagne said. “Much of the stolen property has been recovered and is being identified by the owners.”

St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Capt. Patrick Yoes said items stolen from the cars included sunglasses, tools, jewelry, a camera and bank cards, and one of the residences where a burglary took place had video surveillance that captured images of two males.

Champagne said the four suspects performed the auto burglaries in Destrehan and New Sarpy “by going door to door during the wee hours (of Saturday and Sunday mornings) to locate unlocked vehicles with valuables left inside.”

Deric Pritchett of 43 Carriage Lane in Destrehan, Aiden Smith of 135 Pleasant Valley Drive in Des Allemands and John Motta of 195 Carolyn Drive in Destrehan were each arrested Monday and booked with 15 counts of burglary of a movable.

Shyquile Posey of 721 Vans Lane in New Sarpy was arrested Monday and booked with possession of stolen property.

Yoes said Monday morning a patrol officer was in the area of Carolyn Drive when he observed two males on bicycles with flashlights. One of the males, identified as Smith, was found in possession of two mismatched socks the officer believed to have been used as gloves and several plastic grocery bags.

Yoes said Smith also had a pair of Ray Ban sunglasses in his possession.

The second male on a bike, Yoes said, was identified as Motta. According to authorities, Motta had a pair of sunglasses around his neck and a $6,000 watch in his pocket.

“The subjects and the items on (Smith and Motta) matched the description of the individuals on the surveillance camera and the items on (them) matched items taken in the auto burglaries,” Yoes said.

As of press time Tuesday, Posey and Motta remained incarcerated.