Victim’s accurate description helps solve rash of burglaries
Published 11:07 am Wednesday, May 15, 2024
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RIDGECREST, La.— Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office’s Criminal Investigation Division has identified two suspects in a rash of recent burglaries Ridgecrest area with the help of a victim’s description, officials said in a press release.
The burglaries beginning in early April were resolved when a resident called 911 on Sunday, May 5, to report that their house was being broken into, the sheriff’s office said.
The caller was able to give a description of two teens and accurately report the direction they were traveling.
They were identified as 18-year-old Kevin Ray Thomas and a 15-year-old juvenile whose name was not released because of his age.
![](https://www.natchezdemocrat.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/05/051724.Burglary-arrest-150x150.jpg)
Kevin Ray Thomas
Due to the detailed description given by the caller, CPSO deputies were able to quickly locate and apprehend them. Both were found to be in possession of pistols hidden under their clothing.
During the initial interview, Thomas confessed to burglarizing several residences in the area, and that the firearm removed from him was stolen from the first home the pair had broken into. The juvenile was also questioned with a legal guardian present and admitted to his part in all of the burglaries. He also admitted that the gun removed from him was stolen from a previous burglary.
Sheriff David Hedrick thanked the resident who called 911 for giving such an accurate description of the subjects.
“We rely on good information from residents,” he said. “Our goal is to provide the highest level of service possible to our community and that cannot be done without the cooperation and assistance from the citizens in the parish.”
Hedrick also reminded residents that if they see something unusual to say something and let law enforcement check into the situation.
Thomas, a Ridgecrest resident, has been charged with six counts of aggravated burglary, six counts of contributing to the endangerment of a minor, home invasion, illegal carrying of weapons and illegal possession of a stolen firearm.
Any person who is arrested is presumed innocent until proven guilty.