Homeowner: String of West El Paso burglaries ‘crimes of opportunity’
El Paso Police may have the suspects responsible for a string of burglaries on the city’s Westside.
Police report that as many as eight homes in El Paso’s Westside were burglarized between May 14th and June 6th, 2018. The suspects, Francisco Villescas, 24, and Cristal Peña, 19, entered the homes during the night, often while the residents were asleep, police said. The suspects would allegedly use an open garage to enter the homes.
The burglaries can be described as crimes of opportunity. An open garage door could likely seem like an invitation to burglars. Even a small opening can provide an access for burglars to enter the home.
Richard Murray, whose neighbor was a victim of one of the burglaries, said, “People left their garage doors a little bit open. And that could create an opportunity or an attractiveness for somebody to get in and see what they can get.”
Police say that Villescas and Pena stole vehicles, cell phones, electronics, jewelry, work equipment and weapons during the burglaries.
Villescas has been charged with nine counts of of Burglary of a Home, two count of Evading Arrest, and a single count of Possession of a Firearm by a Felon. Peña was charged with nine counts of burglary of a home, a single count of Theft, a single count of resisting arrest and a single count of evading arrest.
Police are warning home owners to close their garages to prevent burglary, especially when they are not at home. They are also asking that anyone who may have been burglarized when their garage door was open to contact them as soon as possible.
