Three individuals, including a minor, have been apprehended in connection with a brazen burglary and vandalism at Whittier High School, causing extensive damage and stealing numerous educational items, local authorities have reported. The incident, which took place overnight on July 20, led to the arrest of Jayden Martin, 19, Alexiah Valles, 18, and a juvenile whose name has been withheld due to their age. The break-in resulted in approximately $10,000 in damages to the school, KTLA reported.
Breaking into the school through a window, the suspects managed to pilfer valuable educational tools and live animals, reaching a total of around $12,000 worth of stolen goods. Not only did the retrieved property include a live snake, but also a replica skeleton and multiple pieces of chemistry equipment. The Whittier Police Department's Instagram post disclosed that "all recovered property was returned to its rightful owner." Within mere hours after the burglary, with the school's resource officer's assistance, the minor involved in the case was identified, and a warrant was obtained to search the juvenile's home.
Upon executing the search on July 21, police recovered all of the items reported missing from Whittier High School at the suspect’s residence. The juvenile was subsequently taken into custody and charged with felony vandalism and burglary, according to the Whittier Police Department's Instagram post. The investigation continued as detectives worked to identify the remaining individuals connected to the crime.
Several weeks after the break-in, on August 11, the Whittier PD detectives were successfully able to pin down Martin and Valles as the other participants in the burglary and vandalism incident. They were arrested and booked at the Whittier Police Department Jail without further incident, anticipating charges for their involvement. In the process of the investigative work, the department expressed their dedication to quality service, highlighting the promptness and effectiveness of their actions in bringing the suspects to justice.
