By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

ST. ROSE – A Luling couple allegedly responsible for a rash of burglaries in St. Charles and Jefferson Parishes was arrested late Wednesday after a search of their home uncovered a cache of stolen merchandise worth more than $100,000, St. Charles Sheriff Greg Champagne said Friday.

Errol R. Falcon Jr., 31, and Tracie A. Wright, 21, both of 399 Marcia Drive, were allegedly involved in more than 15 home invasions and burglaries in the area that date back to the middle of November. Champagne said when deputies and detectives raided the couple’s home around 10 p.m. Wednesday, they discovered stacks of DVD movies and video games, half a dozen flat screen televisions, assorted tools, coins, jewelry and sports memorabilia that had all been reported stolen in the past month – part of what Champagne described as “an abnormal surge in forced entry burglaries in the parish.”

“We were hoping to catch him in the act when we executed the warrant,” Champagne said, referring to Falcon. “As deputies raided the residence, the suspect was found in a vehicle not far from the home.”

Champagne said Falcon and Wright have been matched to eight of the 15 reported burglaries. He said both were booked into the Nelson Coleman Correctional Center in Killona Wednesday on six counts of possession of stolen property over $500, two counts of possession of stolen property $300 to $500 and two counts of possession misdemeanor. Wright is being held on a $250,000 bond while Falcon, who was also charged with theft of goods $100 to $499, is being held on a $750,000 bond.

Authorities said Wright had no prior arrests in the parish but said Falcon is a repeat offender with an extensive criminal history that includes a theft charge at a Boutte Wal-Mart. Champagne said Falcon enlisted the help of Wright, who worked as a security guard at the Wal-Mart, to shoplift various items from the store. Champagne said Wright helped Falcon point out blind spots in the store’s security cameras.

Champagne said the couple’s methods of attack in the burglaries were well thought out and meticulously planned. He said Falcon would often spend time scouting out potential victims’ homes to make sure they were free of occupants before breaking through a back window and ransacking the residence from top to bottom.

“In many cases, the suspects would grab whatever luggage they could find inside the home and stuff it with whatever they deemed valuable,” Champagne said. “There were also instances where phone lines in the home were cut in an effort to determine if security measures were in place.”

The couple also did not stick to one specific area of the parish. Champagne said Falcon and Wright hit two or three homes in one neighborhood before moving on to the next part of the parish in an effort to avoid suspicion.

“They did what they could to avoid alarming too many residents in one specific area,” Champagne said. “The problem is that he just went to the well one too many times and ended up getting caught.”

Authorities believe Falcon and Wright had other accomplices in some of the burglaries. Champagne said some of the stolen goods, including a fully assembled game table and several electric generators, could not be lifted by one person.

“The investigation is ongoing, and we may have more arrests forthcoming,” Champagne said. “We are just happy to have the ring leader behind bars today. St. Charles Parish is a much safer place now that this individual is in custody.”

The news of the arrest was particularly comforting to Bill Alten Hein and Gayle Melville, a Metairie couple who was hit by the burglaries. The two were in St. Rose Friday at the Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Bureau to try and reclaim what was stolen.

“They got us on one of those rainy days we had in the past week,” Melville said. “We have a neighbor with a dog that barks at everything, but he was inside that day because of the rain. What really upset me was the condition they left our house in. It was completely ravaged.”

The couple was able to recover two televisions and a computer printer stolen from their home.

“It was shocking,” Hein said. “You don’t expect that sort of thing to happen to you. I’m just glad he’s not still out there.”

Those who believe they may be victims of the recent rash of burglaries may contact the Sheriff’s Office at 985-783-1135 to schedule a time to reclaim items.