Suspected burglars linked to multiple residential crimes

EL DORADO HILLS — An alert neighbor helped authorities bust up a home burglary in progress after spotting an open garage door Wednesday morning.

Around 5 a.m. Wednesday, the caller reported the suspicious circumstances on the 6000 block of Creekberry Drive in El Dorado Hills.

Responding sheriff’s deputies saw lights moving around inside the residence and heard noises coming from the garage area, and set up a perimeter around the home.

A vehicle started up and backed out of the garage, prompting deputies to order the four suspects inside to stop. The suspects disregarded the commands and led sheriff’s units in an abbreviated pursuit through the gated community. The suspects stopped their vehicle and fled on foot. Two of the suspects were captured within the hour in the nearby area.

The other two outstanding suspects were located approximately six hours later.

One of the outstanding suspects had called for a ride and made his way to a Citrus Heights residence located on Westgate Lane. Sheriff’s detectives were already ahead of him and watched as he arrived and began loading stolen property from the victims’ residence into a vehicle. The suspect began to drive off when it was stopped by local law enforcement. The suspect was arrested and stolen property was recovered.

The fourth suspect had been hiding in the bushes, broke into a residence and was located in the garage sitting in a vehicle by the homeowner. The suspect fled and walked up to deputies who were processing the Creekberry residence and gave himself up.

During the investigation, two residences were identified as possibly storing stolen property. A warrant was requested for the Citrus Heights residence located on Westgate Lane and a probation search of an El Dorado Hills residence located on Berkshire Drive turned up large quantities of stolen property. Recovered property ranged from power tools, guns, furniture, household items, artwork, computers, electronics, sports memorabilia, jewelry and more.

Detectives believe that the burglary suspects are responsible for 20-plus burglaries in the greater El Dorado Hills area based on recently reviewed burglary reports and by matching recovered stolen property. Detectives are attempting to return the stolen property to its rightful owners.

The four suspects, two of which were named, were booked into county jail without incident. Charges for Aaron Duarte, 27, of Folsom, John Giltner, 28, of Citrus Heights, and their alleged accomplices included burglary, vehicle theft and enhancements for probation violations.