4 held in separate break-ins

Del Norte County sheriff’s deputies made four burglary-related arrests in the past couple of days.

On Saturday, authorities apprehended two people at the Scenic Creek Apartment complex whom they had been seeking for over a month, sheriff’s Commander Bill Steven said.

Stephanie Croan, 29, and Manuel Munoz, 30, both of Crescent City, are suspected in an Oct. 6 burglary of a house on the 1900 block of Elk Valley Road, Steven said.

The burglary netted several thousands of dollars worth of stolen property, including six guns, a generator, a chain saw and a power washer, he said.

Croan and Munoz were booked into the Del Norte County Jail at 10:50 a.m. Saturday after authorities located them at the apartment complex behind Walmart.

“I know they had been on the move for quite a while, which was making it difficult to locate them,” said Steven.

Authorities found property from the burglary, along with marijuana and hash, on the suspects, Steven said.

Croan was arrest on suspicion of burglary, grand theft, theft from an elder, obtaining money by false voucher, criminal conspiracy, possession of marijuana and hash, receiving stolen property and grand theft of a firearm.

Munoz was arrested on suspicion of theft from an elder, burglary, obtaining money by false voucher, grand theft of a firearm, possession of marijuana and hash, receiving stolen property, criminal conspiracy and grand theft.

Sheriff’s deputies  arrested two other people Monday suspected of an attempted burglary.

A person called 911 after noticing a possibly burglary occurring at a residence on Kings Valley Road around 8 a.m., Steven said.

“It was somebody that thought it looked suspicious and reported it, which is exactly what we’d like people to do,” said Steven.

The person gave authorities a description of a gray Pontiac Grand Am that had left the area, Steven said.

The car was located and pulled over by a California Highway Patrol officer about 30 minutes later on U.S. Highway 101 near South Beach, Steven said.

No stolen possessions were found, but a broken window at the residence indicated that entry had been made, Steven said.

“This seems to be one of those occasions where they got startled,” said Steven. “We were able to put the pieces together and see the attempt was made.”

In addition to the broken window, the witness identified the two people who were pulled over, Steven said.

Angela Bates, 33, of Crescent City was arrested on suspicion of a parole violation, criminal conspiracy and attempted burglary.

Johnny Ponciano, 43, of Crescent City was arrested on suspicion of criminal conspiracy and attempted burglary.