Two suspects from Pennsylvania were arrested in Jefferson Parish after investigators with the Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department identified them as suspects in a string of automobile burglaries.
Near the end of November, the department began receiving reports of automobile burglaries in the Anchor Lake Road area, Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department Chief Investigator Marc Ogden said.
“The burglaries were happening outside of people’s homes,” Ogden said. “The suspects were looking for cars unlocked in order to enter the car and take anything of value.”
As part of their investigation, Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department investigators searched local pawnshops and located items taken from the cars, Ogden said.
As a result, investigators were able to identify the suspects as 34-year-old Krista Catanese and 36-year-old Justin Barnett of Pennsylvania, Ogden said.
Catanese and Barnett were arrested by Jefferson Parish deputies last week, Ogden said.
In Pearl River County, Catanese and Barnett will each be charged with five counts of commercial burglary of an automobile, Ogden said.
They are also facing multiple counts of automobile burglary and automobile theft in Jefferson Parish, Ogden said.
“We also have reason to believe they’ve been doing this in other jurisdictions between here and Pennsylvania,” Ogden said.
Ogden would like to remind residents to be extra cautious with their vehicles and belongings, especially during this time of year.
“Please lock your cars and don’t leave anything of value, such as phones or Christmas gifts, where people can see them,” Ogden said.