Clovis man arrested on burglary charges

Police arrested a Clovis man Thursday morning who they believe may be responsible for close to a dozen vehicle burglaries in the last two weeks.

It was the second time this week Fabian Martinez, 18, has been arrested for breaking into a vehicle.

Clovis police detective Sgt. Lyndell Stansell said Martinez was arrested Thursday in connection with a vehicle burglary at Lowe's Home Improvement store Wednesday evening. He said Martinez is in jail and his bond has been revoked.

Stansell said a Lowe's employee caught Martinez in her car and called the police as Martinez fled.

Martinez also faces burglary charges for an incident on Sunday when he was arrested after police found him in possession of two purses that were reported stolen from vehicles parked at Sacred Heart Catholic Church on 911 Merriwether and the Church of Christ on 1720. W. 21st.

Clovis police say Martinez was found in a vehicle that matched the description of one suspected in other vehicle burglaries. Additional charges may be filed as the investigation continues.

More than a dozen vehicle burglaries have been reported to the Clovis Police Department in the last two weeks, according to a crime map on the department's website.

Stansell said Clovis residents should take precautions to lower the risk of vehicle break-ins. One way to do so is to hide valuables from sight and to lock their vehicles when they leave them, he said.

Even device chargers left in cigarette lighters could attract potential thieves, he said.

He said it takes about five seconds for a thief to break into a vehicle and leave with the valuables inside. The thieves don't even need to get inside the vehicle, he said.

"A lot of times, they're checking door handles looking for a car that's unlocked," he said.

He also recommends keeping serial numbers of devices. Because when thieves are arrested they could have items from previous burglaries in their possession.

"People that break into cars don't do it once," he said.