Police said the three teens are Sureno gang members.
On Wednesday, a 60-year-old Bethards Drive resident discovered his house had been ransacked, spray-painted and vandalized by suspects who got inside through a broken window, Sgt. David Linscomb said.
A 14-year-old boy was later arrested after a patrol officer saw three boys riding bicycles with large duffel bags on the handlebars in the area of Farmers Lane and Hoen Avenue at about 8:10 p.m., Linscomb said.
The teens appeared nervous when the patrol officer passed them, and they fled in different directions when he turned his patrol car around, Linscomb said.
The officer followed one of the teens and found the 14-year-old boy hiding in the bushes with a duffel bag full of electronics, Linscomb said.
Police found a second duffel bag that had been discarded by the fleeing teens nearby, Linscomb said.
The 14-year-old boy was taken into custody on suspicion of burglary and possession of graffiti tools. He was taken to juvenile hall, Linscomb said.
On Thursday, a police gang crimes unit officer recognized the teen as a Sureno gang member who had been detained earlier Wednesday, Linscomb said.
Detectives then identified two of the teen's associates, ages 14 and 16, who are also Sureno gang members, Linscomb said. They were interviewed and taken to juvenile hall. The three teens face burglary and gang participation charges, he said.
Police believe the teens were knocking on doors in the Bethards Drive neighborhood in search of an unoccupied home. All of the burglary victim's property was found in the duffel bags, Linscomb said.
