Published: February 04, 2009 10:05 am      

Police catch burglars

Danie M. Huffman

wdreporter2@yahoo.com

Another business was reportedly broken into Monday, marking at least six in recent months.

Police followed a trail which led them to three suspects they believe burglarized R & K Restaurant on Fort Worth Highway Tuesday morning.

Weatherford Police officers responded to the call just after 5 a.m.

When officers arrived on scene, they discovered the suspects forced their way into the building by breaking in the front glass door with what appeared to be a rock, leaving a table broken. Police said the suspects stole a safe from inside the building containing several hundred dollars in it.

While on scene, officers discovered wheel tracks leading away from the business.

The officers followed the tracks, which led to North Bankhead Drive, east on Jameson Street to Pine Street, and outside of Mimosa Street Apartments where they located a serving cart, which appeared to be from the restaurant.

“It was the patrol officers’ attention to minor details that led us to the suspects,” said Capt. Greg Lance in a press release. “Following the tracks back to the apartments allowed investigators to concentrate on that complex.”

Officers responded to the apartments earlier the prior evening in regards to a burglary, where the tenant reported a television, a DVD player and several DVDs had been stolen.

During the course of that investigation, detectives were able to develop suspects they believed were linked to the restaurant burglary.

Investigators from Weatherford Police and the Weatherford-Parker County Special Crimes Unit made contact with the suspects who reportedly reside in the same complex.

Investigators gained consent to search the apartment where they found the restaurant safe and the television from the apartment burglary.

The suspects were identified as Ezekiel Guy Fuentes, 26, and Julio Miguel Fuentes, 28, both of Weatherford. The pair was arrested for burglary of a building for the restaurant crime.

Julio Fuentes and Tonya Kay Loughry, 38, of Weatherford, are also being charged with burglary of a habitation for the apartment burglary.

Officers said the suspects confessed to the burglaries after being questioned by authorities.

Lance said the suspects were charged with felonies, adding, “As a result, they could each be sentenced to no less than six months and up to 20 years in prison.”

At least five other business break-ins have been reported in recent months.

In prior incidents, including numerous local pharmacies, burglars got away with thousands of dollars in prescription drugs and cash. Other break-ins were also reported at local restaurants. Police said each of the cases are currently being investigated, although some could be classified as vandalism, where no merchandise was taken, but windows were shattered.

Weatherford Police Detective Wendy Field said officials are investigating to any relation in the crimes.

“The detectives are investigating the case and will try to get any information on any other cases they may possibly be involved in,” Field said.

All three suspects remain in the Parker County Jail. Julio Fuentes’ bail was set at $45,000. As of press time, Ezekiel Fuentes and Loughry’s bond had not been set.