HURRICANE – An 18-year-old Apple Valley resident is in jail on suspicion of burglarizing multiple vehicles in Hurricane City over the past several weeks.

The suspect was charged with nine counts of burglary of a vehicle, a class A misdemeanor, and eight counts of theft, a class B misdemeanor.  He was booked into Purgatory Correctional Facility on $22,151 bail.

A recent rash of vehicle burglaries prompted Hurricane Police to warn residents earlier this month to keep their vehicles locked and secure and to never leave items of value behind.

Hurricane City Police investigators and patrol officers worked together to locate evidence and possible suspects, which lead to the suspect’s arrest Thursday.

“The whole department came together on this investigation and it paid off,” said Hurricane Police Sgt. Stacey Gubler. “Officer Raleigh Morris, the arresting officer, did a heck of a job on this case.”

An investigation into this case is ongoing, said Gubler, who added the public is urged to contact police at (435) 627-4999 if they see any suspicious vehicles or behavior occurring in their neighborhoods.

“We believe there may be more people involved in these vehicle burglaries,” Gubler said. “If you see something suspicious, notify us right away. Don’t wait. It’s our job to check it out. And remember to lock your doors and don’t leave anything valuable in your vehicle.”

Submitted by the Hurricane City Police Department.