By Monique Roth
L’Observateur

LAPLACE — Four men who authorities believe could be responsible for almost 40 vehicle burglaries in St. John Parish were arrested early Sunday morning.

“On 1:30 a.m. Sunday, St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies stopped a car matching the description of a car that was reportedly seen in the area during recent vehicle burglaries in LaPlace,” a Sheriff’s Office press release said. “Four men occupied the car. During the stop, the driver of the car admitted to deputies that he burglarized several vehicles and briefly explained what happened during the burglaries.”

The driver was identified as Kevin Staes, 21, of Hebert Drive in Reserve.

During an interview between detectives and Staes, he implicated Corey Horton, 18, of Williamsburg Drive in LaPlace and a 16-year-old male of Magnolia Street in LaPlace in participating in vehicle burglaries that occurred on or about Aug. 17 in the LaPlace Park Subdivision.

Staes also implicated Donald Mcelveen Jr., 20, of Linda Lane in LaPlace in participating in the vehicle burglaries that occurred over the weekend in subdivisions off of U.S. 51 and Main Street in LaPlace.

All four men were arrested.

Tregre said SJSO crime cameras and residents’ home surveillance video footage was instrumental in tying the four men to the crimes.

“The partnership is paying off,” Tregre said of the system in which residents who have personal security camera systems at their homes can register their cameras with the St. John Parish Camera Registry.

Tregre said detectives are investigating the case and additional arrests are “very possible.”

He said all of the cars targeted were unlocked, and in some cases nothing was taken. Detectives are checking pawnshops for any items the suspected burglary team may have stolen and sold.

“I appreciate people thinking they can leave their vehicles unlocked,” Tregre said. “But in this day and age, criminals are going from cars to cars in subdivisions looking for things to steal.

“It’s the trend in this entire region.”

Tregre said he believes these arrests will “absolutely put a dent” in vehicle burglaries around the parish, but he strongly encourages residents to take all valuables out of their cars and lock them every night.

The juvenile faces 14 counts of simple burglary of a motor vehicle. Authorities said he is being held at the Assumption Parish Juvenile Detention Center until a hearing.

Sheriff Mike Tregre said the juvenile was friends with the arrested men and there was no known family relation.

Staes was booked with contributing to the delinquency of juveniles and 39 counts of simple burglary of a motor vehicle. He remains in custody in lieu of a $391,000 bond.

Horton was booked with contributing to the delinquency of juveniles and 14 counts of simple burglary of a motor vehicle. He remains in custody in lieu of a $141,000 bond.

Mcelveen was booked with 25 counts of simple burglary of a motor vehicle. He remains in custody in lieu of a $250,000 bond.