Burglaries linked to property

Roosevelt County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Malin Parker told county commissioners Tuesday his office has linked 24 burglaries to stolen property recovered a few weeks ago in a residence east of Portales.

Two people have been arrested in connection with the burglaries, said Parker, who has declined to identify those taken into custody, citing an ongoing investigation.

"We anticipate at least two more arrests," Parker reported during the commission meeting.

Hundreds of stolen items discovered at South Roosevelt Road 6 are from a string of burglaries in Portales, Roosevelt County and Bailey and Cochran counties in Texas that date back as far as spring 2012, Parker said.

Parker told county commissioners the investigation was sparked by a phone call about a break-in attempt from a woman who lives south of Dora. The woman was able to give a description of a vehicle the suspects drove away in, leading officials to the home on South Roosevelt Road 6.

The home, a barn and a 10-by-30-foot storage box on the property were filled with stolen items — Parker predicts at least two semi-truck loads worth of property.

Parker estimated a $40,000 value on the items that have been identified by burglary victims and more than $100,000 in what hasn't been identified.

Parker is still asking burglary victims to contact the sheriff's office and identify their stolen goods in this ongoing investigation.