An 18-year-old is facing 13 charges that stem from a string of thefts from vehicles in James City County.
Tyler D. Arguello was arrested May 15 and charged with five counts of grand larceny, three counts of petit larcenies, two counts of credit card thefts, two counts of tampering with a vehicle and one count of destruction of property — seven felonies and six misdemeanors.
James City County Police charged Arguello in connection with thefts from vehicles in early May that occurred on Lake Powell Road, Hunter’s Ridge, Lancaster Lane, Wimbledon Way and Conway Drive, said police spokesperson Maj. Steve Rubino.
Upon searching Arguello’s home, investigators found several electronic devices that had been recently reported as stolen from vehicles, Rubino said.
Police are also looking into whether Arguello is connected with thefts from vehicles investigators believe Arguello’s nephew, a 14-year-old, committed in April.
Petitions are pending against his nephew for three counts of vehicle tampering, two counts of grand larceny, two counts of petit larceny and one trespassing charge.
Police first charged the nephew after an April 26 incident during which he allegedly broke into an unoccupied residence on the 2900 block of John Tyler Highway. Police responded a report that someone was looking into windows of the home, and the boy fled on a stolen bicycle upon officers’ arrival.
The boy confessed to breaking into the residence, and also to breaking into vehicles parked near the Seventh Day Adventist Church earlier in the month.
That arrest led to Arguello as a suspect in a rash of recent vehicle break-ins, Rubino said.
The investigation is ongoing, as police suspect Arguello and his nephew may be connected with other thefts from vehicles.
