[L.A. County Sheriff’s Dept.] – Detectives from the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station Burglary and Fraud team managed to track down two juveniles believed to be responsible for at least 16 vehicle burglaries in the Saugus area of Santa Clarita over the past two months.

The detectives got the break they needed after they located some of the stolen property on the Craigslist resale website, Sheriff’s Sgt. Jim Anderson said.

Detectives placed a call indicating they wanted to purchase some of the items. One of the unsuspecting subjects met deputies at a local shopping center. Team members moved in to take him into custody after confirming he was in possession of some of the stolen items. That subject, male age 16, of Saugus was booked at the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station on felony burglary charges. He was later released to his parents on a citation pending future court proceedings.

Information obtained during the arrest led deputies to a home in the 22800 block of Tamarack Lane, Saugus, where they located dozens of stolen items connected to other Santa Clarita cases. The items included video display systems, studio recording equipment, medical supplies and testing kits, electronics, sunglasses, cameras, GPS systems, and even a stolen gun. Deputies estimate the value of the property in all the cases at more than $50,000. Deputies were able to return $18,000 worth of video equipment to one victim alone.

Deputies didn’t stop there, they developed information on where the second juvenile subject was staying. They went to the 28700 block of Startree Lane in Saugus and arrested the second juvenile, male 17 of Saugus. That subject also had a no bail probation warrant. He was booked at the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station on the warrant and felony burglary charges. He was transported to Sylmar Juvenile pending future court proceedings.

Detectives hope to bring closure to more victims over the coming days as the investigation continues.

Anyone with information regarding these crimes is asked to call Detective Marino of the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station at 661-799-5151. For completely anonymous tips please call Crime Stoppers by dialing 800-222-TIPS (8477), texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or using the web site http://lacrimestoppers.org.