3 men charged in 2 burglaries

By Rhiannon Meyers

Published July 24, 2009

LEAGUE CITY — Police charged three Honduran men Thursday in connection with two burglaries in League City.

The burglaries were the latest in a string of break-ins plaguing the city. This week, 13 houses and buildings have been burglarized, according to police records.

While police Sgt. David Hausam said the upswing in home burglaries seems to be a national phenomenon, he said League City has seen a noticeable increase in the number of burglarized homes in 2009.

The arrests of three men Thursday charged with breaking into two buildings sends a message that police are diligently trying to catch burglars, Hausam said.

The three men are charged with burglarizing two buildings — a house in the 2900 block of Carolina Avenue and a building in the 400 block of Palomino Street, which might be headquarters for a Bible study group, Hausam said. Police have yet to identify the owners.

A neighbor called police after he noticed the men around the building on Palomino Street and heard glass breaking, Hausam said. When police arrived, two men fled on foot, Hausam said.

Police arrested the two at Clear Springs High School on Palomino Street, Hausam said. Police found the third man in a black car at the dead end of Palomino, Hausam said.

Police suspect all three men, who had Honduran identification, are in the country illegally, Hausam said. The League City Police Department notified U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement of the arrests.

Police charged Jose Mariano Rivas, 32, with two counts of burglary of a habitation; Arnold Rafael Torres-Pinto, 24, with evading arrest and two counts of burglary of a habitation and Jose Alejo Mendoza, 19, with evading arrest, possession of marijuana and two counts of burglary of a habitation.

They remained in jail late Thursday.

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