Teenager arrested for auto burglary

Clovis police have arrested a teenage boy for an auto burglary Saturday in Portales, said Portales Police Capt. Lonnie Berry.

Berry said his officers located the 14-year-old Portales resident in Clovis Wednesday, acting on information from Portales Officer Kane Wyatt. The juvenile is being detained in Clovis.

“We think he may have known the warrant was coming down and he had actually gone there to avoid arrest,” Berry said.

The juvenile is charged with one count each of breaking and entering, burglary and larceny.

He is accused of smashing a window in a vehicle in the 500 block of North Globe Avenue and stealing a purse about 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Police said he also kicked open the back door of a nearby home about the same time but didn’t enter because the alarm sounded.

When police responded to the alarm, he said, Wyatt saw the juvenile and had Roosevelt County Sheriff’s Deputy Mark Morrison hold him for questioning.

Berry said the teenager confessed to kicking open the door and breaking into the vehicle, but didn’t give a motive.

The boy was initially released because police didn’t have a warrant.

“As a juvenile, he’ll be dealt with through the juvenile justice system,” Berry said.

Berry said he knew of no previous record for the teenager.