3 allegedly burglarize shop of converters
Two men were arrested on Wednesday for allegedly burglarizing a company in Lower Base, stealing catalytic converters, and selling them to recycling centers.
Jesse P. Villagomez, 21, and Ryan Orilly Garde, 19, were apprehended for burglary and theft.
Detective Vincent K. Basa stated in his report that Villagomez, Garde and a third suspect who is a juvenile all admitted to the charges.
At yesterday’s hearing, Superior Court associate judge Kenneth Govendo imposed a $10,000 cash bail each for the defendants’ temporary release.
Preliminary hearing was set for May 29 at 9am.
Basa said that on May 1, 2008, Muksedur Rahman called the Department of Public Safety to report that Balli Steele (formerly Hawaiian Rock Quarry) had been burglarized.
Rahman said that someone damaged and entered the back door of the shop and stole some recycling items.
The following day, Rahman called DPS again to report that he had found some of the stolen catalytic converters at the Huang Zhun Corp. Recycling Center in Puerto Rico.
An employee of Zhun Corp. told a responding police officer that three local male persons on board a pickup truck arrived at the recycling center. The employee noticed several catalytic converters in the bed of the truck.
The employee said that of the several catalytic converters, he bought only four for $2.45.
The employee provided the officer with a copy of the receipt.
That same day, the officer proceeded to Basula Produkto in Lower Base where he found out that three male individuals sold the remaining catalytic converters in that shop.
An employee of Basula Produkto identified the person who sold the converters as Villagomez. Villagomez was accompanied by Garde and another boy.
Villagomez was paid $108 for the converters.
Basa said the three suspects allegedly confessed to the burglary.
Apparently, it was Villagomez and the juvenile who broke into the shop, while Garde waited outside.
It was not clear yet as of yesterday if the juvenile was also arrested.
