Andrew Hernandez and Jerome Jason are being held in the Canyon County Jail on burglary and grand theft charges after sheriff’s deputies say the pair committed as many as 17 burglaries since October.
Sheriff’s officials say the 21-year-old Hernandez and 20-year-old Jason targeted unlocked garages and cars in Canyon, Ada, and Gem counties since fall. Detectives spent the past week recovering about $10,000 worth of items they say the pair stole during their crime spree.
Items reported stolen include golf clubs, tools, radar detectors, iPods, stereo equipment, and other electronic devices.
Sheriff’s officials say they were able to identify Hernandez and Jason as suspects when they were caught using a financial transaction card, reported stolen in one of the burglaries, at a local store for a spending spree. From that point, detectives were able identify the pair as suspects in other burglaries, Sgt. Christopher McCormick said.
Investigators said it appears the men would pick neighborhoods at random and look for unlocked cars and homes
Hernandez and Jason are being held in the Canyon County Jail on $20,000 bonds each.
The crimes of grand theft and burglary are punishable by up to 14 and 10 years in prison. Preliminary hearings for both men will be scheduled for early January.
Sheriff's officials urge members of the public to make sure their cars and homes are locked and secure, and also suggest that citizens write down serial numbers of important purchases so if they are stolen, officers can make sure they go back to their owners.
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