LOGAN -- Deputies have arrested four men and one teenager linked to 191 active cases including burglaries, robberies, thefts and drive-by shootings from Pocatello to Ogden.
After weeks of investigations, police this week arrested Antonio Orozco-Cruz, 29; Hector Diaz, 20; Leonal Martinez-Rico, 19; Jose Padilla, 18; and a 17-year-old male.
"That was a big one," said Cache County Sheriff's Lt. Chad Jensen. "That's what these guys live and die for is to clear cases and get property back to the victims. This is going to be the highlight of the (investigators') year."
The cases include at least 10 aggravated robberies and at least 10 thefts in Ogden, according to a news release from the Cache County Sheriff's Office. Investigators also suspect the five of committing crimes in Logan and Preston, and Franklin and Bannock counties in Idaho.
Over the past several weeks, Cache County and Franklin County investigators were working on reported burglaries in the north end of Cache County and southern Idaho. The thieves had taken electronics and more than 40 firearms.
Investigators found that the suspects would break car windows and take the possessions inside. They would also drive around neighborhoods, knock on doors and when no one answered, break in and take guns, ammunition, jewelry and electronics.
In one aggravated robbery in Cache County, the suspects robbed a resident at gunpoint.
On Sunday, Cache County investigators received a tip that one of the suspects was trying to sell stolen firearms. That led investigators to the men.
Orozco-Cruz and Martinez-Rico were booked into Cache County Jail. The other three were booked into southern Idaho jails.
The majority of the 191 cases will result in felony charges.
"People don't think it's important to call the police about a crime, but this is a primary example" of how citizens can help the police solve cases with tips, Jensen said.
Deputies have not determined if the suspects have any gang affiliations. It appears at least two of them might know each other from working together on farms, Jensen said.
Deputies will continue their investigation and work on finding more stolen property as only half of the firearms have been accounted for, Jensen said. The investigation will likely last another week.
Comments