BY MAIRE O’NEILL
maire@losalamosreporter.com
Two Los Alamos men have been charged in connection with the November burglary of a home on Sereno. Gustavo Salaiz, 22, is charged with burglary, larceny, breaking and entering, contributing to the delinquency of a minor and criminal damage to property. Stanlee Platero, 18, is charged with burglary, larceny, contributing to the delinquency of a minor and conspiracy to commit residential burglary. Potential charges of burglary, larceny and conspiracy to commit residential burglary have been sent to the Juvenile Probation Office for a minor also involved in the case.
According to Los Alamos Magistrate Court documents filed by Los Alamos Police Det. Sgt. James Rodriguez, LAPD was contacted by the victims in the case when they returned from vacation and found that a back door of their home had been forced open. The victims reported that items of jewelry, cash, food and two bottles of alcohol had been taken.
A few days later, the victims notified LAPD that they knew who had burglarized the home because of admissions made to a family member. The victims met with Platero and the minor suspect and got back some of the stolen jewelry. The statement of probable cause filed by Rodriguez says the two males admitted having broken into the home. A complicated series of interactions followed between Rodriguez, the two suspects and their parents. The statement of probable cause indicated that the minor male and another man broke into the home of one of the parents to retrieve a bag containing the stolen items. The fourth man’s involvement remains under investigation.
Rodriguez also met with Salaiz who also admitted to breaking into the home. A whit.e gold ring with a rectangular diamond main stone surrounded by smaller diamonds valued at close to $7,000 remains missing as well as a sapphire/diamond ring and earrings, solid gold baby rings and a black circular crystal pendant necklace.
Salaiz and Platero are scheduled for first appearances Mar. 18 before Magistrate Judge Pat Casados.