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Police catch southwest business burglars in the act
| Monday, Oct 13 2008 5:59 PM
Last Updated: Tuesday, Oct 14 2008 7:15 AM
When 18-year-old Lawrence Raymond Stallman was found outside a California Avenue restaurant early Sunday morning by officers responding to a burglary alarm, he told them he was a witness to the crime.
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Reyes Rosales Olivas, 25, called The Californian Wednesday morning to declare his innocence. (Photo courtesy of BPD)
That claim didn’t hold up for long when police discovered that Stallman had already stolen two flat-screen TVs from the restaurant and a second suspect was hiding in his car, police said. Stallman was eventually suspected to be responsible for nine burglaries in the area, and even more charges could be coming.
The burglary at 3:38 a.m. at Flame & Skewers on California Avenue marked Stallman’s latest act in a string of burglaries that began in July, police said. Laptops and TVs were among the items stolen from various businesses in the area, including real estate and dentists’ offices and restaurants.
Police had asked for the public’s help on Oct. 3 in identifying suspects in about 30 burglaries over the past few months. Stallman was involved in some of those burglaries, police said.
Several search warrants were served and detectives recovered five computers, two of which have been confirmed as stolen.
“This is quite a significant arrest,” Bakersfield police Sgt. Greg Terry said. “I expect there will be additional offenses as the investigation continues.”
Nabeel Mansour, the owner of Flame & Skewers, said he installed a security system after Shogun Palace, a nearby business, was burglarized several weeks ago. The alarm system helped officers retrieve Mansour’s two 52-inch flat screen televisions.
“I’m very relieved,” Mansour said. “I’m not worried about the TVs. I’m just glad they got caught.”
Another establishment allegedly burglarized by Stallman was El Adobe Mexican Restaurant on Ming Avenue. El Adobe’s owner, Victor Lopez, said he installed surveillance cameras and more lighting after the Sept. 23 burglary.
“That’s good news that he got caught,” Lopez said.
Also arrested in connection with the burglaries were Narciso Villanueva Jr., 41, and Richard Stallman, 20, police said.
Detectives are looking for a fifth suspect, 25-year-old Reyes Rosales Olivas.
Lawrence Stallman was booked on suspicion of nine counts of burglary and conspiracy and two counts of receiving stolen property, according to police. The suspect hiding in his car, a 17-year-old male, was arrested on suspicion of one count of burglary and conspiracy. Both are from Bakersfield.
Lawrence Stallman had been identified as a suspect from two surveillance photos that were released from two different burglaries and a tip from Secret Witness, police said.
Anyone with information about the burglaries is asked to call Bakersfield police at 327-7111. Anonymous and confidential information can be provided through Secret Witness at 322-4040.
— Californian staff writer Felix Doligosa Jr. contributed to this report.