REHOBOTH BEACH, DELAWARE (4/6/2016) Three suspects have been arrested in connection with multiple burglaries in Rehoboth Beach, city police said Tuesday night.
One of the burglaries was at the Purple Parrot Restaurant & Bar on Rehoboth Avenue about 3:15 a.m. Sunday, where police found money and alcohol had been taken.
About 3 a.m., a homeowner in the Third Street area was awakened by dogs barking and discovered a front window open and two laptop computers missing.
Officers had interviewed the three who were later arrested when they earlier attempted to untie a flagpole rope at the Rehoboth Beach Volunteer Fire Company, Lt. Jaime B. Riddle said.
One of them, identified as Marco A. Zavala-Zavala, 18, of Newark, also was seen carrying what looked like a laptop computer near the Breakers Hotel, where they were staying, and within a block of the burglary, Riddle said.
When police attempted to arrest Zavala-Zavala at a room in the hotel, he attempted to punch one of the officers but was placed in handcuffs without causing injury, Riddle said. Two laptops were recovered in the room, he said.
“A follow-up investigation revealed that Zavala-Zavala had burglarized two homes and a vehicle, in addition to the Purple Parrot Restaurant & Bar, stealing a television, jewelry, and handbags,” Riddle said.
“Investigators also determined that Zavala-Zavala had unsuccessfully attempted to burglarize three other homes within four blocks of the Breakers Hotel causing damage to the residences by cutting screens and breaking a door,” he said.
Riddle said Luis Salmeron-Silva, 17, of Newark, participated in the residential and vehicle burglaries serving as a lookout for Zavala-Zavala.
The third suspect, Francis B. Ortiz, 22, of Georgetown, and Zavala-Zavala were identified in surveillance video from the Purple Parrot burglary, Riddle said.
Zavala-Zavala was charged with 15 felony counts including second-degree burglary, attempted second-degree burglary, wearing a disguise during commission of a felony, third-degree burglary, second-degree conspiracy and theft under $1,500 where the victim is 62 or older. He also was charged with 11 misdemeanor counts and was being held at Sussex Correctional Institution near Georgetown in lieu of $76,400 cash bail.
Salmeron-Silva was charged with 12 felony counts including second-degree burglary, attempted second-degree burglary, second-degree conspiracy and theft under $1,500 where the victim is 62 or older. He also was charged with eight misdemeanor counts. Salmeron-Silva was released on $36,000 unsecured bail.
Ortiz, who turned himself in to police on Tuesday, was charged with two felony counts, third-degree burglary and second-degree conspiracy as well as a misdemeanor theft count. He was being held at Sussex Correctional in lieu of $4,000 secured bail.