Auto burglary suspect arrested, property returned

Published 12:17 am Thursday, February 6, 2020

PORT NECHES — An alert Port Neches resident who noted a suspicious vehicle made a call that led police to a suspected auto burglary suspect.

Port Neches police received the call at approximately 12:19 a.m. Tuesday on Little Jeff Drive, where a vehicle was in front of a residence and a passenger got out, Port Neches Police Chief Paul Lemoine said.

A vehicle matching the description was found on Baker Avenue in the roadway with the lights off and one person inside.

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Police reportedly found drug paraphernalia in the vehicle and a firearm in plain view.

Further investigation, according to Lemoine, showed the vehicle had been involved in an auto burglary in Groves.

A number of stolen items were recovered and released back to the Groves resident, he said.

Police arrested Sadrach Rodriguez, 17, of Port Arthur for burglary of a vehicle with bond set at $2,500 and a warrant for failure to appear with bond at $200. He remained in the Jefferson County Correctional Facility as of midday Wednesday.

The other individual was not located.