Arrest in rash of house burglaries

Warrant probes for possible gang ties

By Amanda Kerr
Modified: Saturday, December 11, 2010
Originally Published:
Saturday, December 11, 2010 2:12 AM EST

WILLIAMSBURG — A new search warrant reveals that police are investigating whether a burglary suspect has ties to the violent street gang MS-13.The search warrant revealed that investigators believe Arevalo-Martinez may have had at least two accomplices in the burglaries. Police are also investigating whether any of the burglaries might be gang-related.

Franklin Hernan Arevalo-Martinez, 30, was arrested Nov. 3 and charged with two counts of burglary and two counts of grand larceny in connection with burglaries in May and August at homes on Zelkova Road off Parkway Drive.

The arrest was the first break in a string of house burglaries that have numbered more than a dozen in the last seven months. They have continued despite the arrest of Arevalo-Martinez.

According to the Virginia Courts website, one count each of burglary and grand larceny against Arevalo-Martinez were certified to go before a grand jury during a hearing on Nov. 30. The next grand jury meets in January. Two other counts of burglary and grand larceny were dismissed.

A search warrant filed at the Williamsburg-James City Courthouse this week notes that police are investigating around 14 residential burglaries that have occurred around the city since May.

Williamsburg Police Maj. Greg Riley said that two new burglaries were reported in the last week at homes on North Henry Street and Ironbound Road.

Last month police released information that they were investigating burglaries at homes on Lafayette Street and Mill Neck Road.

Riley said there is no clear connection between the burglaries, which have occurred at a variety of locations at different times of day and night.

“There are no real links that we can tell,â€