Teen Sought In String Of Burglaries In San Pedro

SAN PEDRO, CA -- Police Wednesday circulated a photo of a 19-year-old man sought for allegedly committing residential burglaries and robberies in the San Pedro area with two cohorts, who are already in custody.

Bernard Peoples should not be approached, according to Los Angeles police Detective Kevin Reynolds, who said anyone who spots the Los Angeles resident should call 911.

The suspect is black, 6 feet 3 inches tall, weighs about 200 pounds and has black hair and brown eyes.

Two of his alleged accomplices, 24-year-old Darion Green and Deandre Fountain, who's in his early 20s but whose exact age wasn't available, are already in custody, according to the LAPD. Both men are Los Angeles residents, according to Reynolds.

One of the robberies allegedly committed by the suspects occurred about 8:20 a.m. on March 3 in the 900 block of Eastman Place in San Pedro.

"The victim had just left her home to drop off her child at school when the suspects broke into (her) home through a rear window," according to a police statement.

Ten minutes later, the victim returned home and was confronted by the intruders, who overpowered her and escaped with jewelry and money.

About 9 a.m. on April 6, officers spotted a vehicle matching the description of the one used by the suspects and, after a short pursuit, placed Fountain under arrest, according to the LAPD.

Detectives continued to investigate and connected Green and Peoples to the crime, police said. Green was arrested and an arrest warrant was issued for Peoples, according to the LAPD.

"The investigation led detectives to believe that these suspects are responsible for a series of residential burglaries and robberies that have occurred in the San Pedro area," according to an LAPD statement.

"These robbers targeted single-family residences, profiling homes believed to be unoccupied, possibly having money, jewelry and/or firearms within the residence. The suspects would then knock on the front door to determine if the residence was occupied. Once they determined no one was at the residence, they would break in through a rear door or window and would systematically search the location for money, jewelry and firearms."

Reynolds said the thieves were methodical and efficient, coming and going in less than 10 minutes.

Anyone with information about the case was urged to call Reynolds at (310) 726-7758. After-hour and weekend calls should be directed to (877) LAPD- 24-7, and anonymous tips can be submitted through Crime Stoppers by calling (800) 222-TIPS.

-- City News Service, photo via Shutterstock