Police arrest two youths after string of burglaries

Petersburg police arrested Joshua Franklin and Brandon Estes on charges of 2nd Degree Burglary yesterday.

Chief Kelly Swihart said his department began receiving multiple reports of break-ins around town the morning of August 28.

“We came up with five commercial burglaries and one attempted burglary,” Swihart said.

Wikan Enterprises, the Hammer and Wikan Grocery, AP&T, Petersburg Motors and Petersburg Parks and Recreation were all burglarized. There were also attempts to break into a trailer in the parking lot of the H&W Grocery.

Swihart said several of the locations had video surveillance and police used footage from parks and rec to positively identify the two suspects and arrest them on charges of one count of burglary each at that location.

“We served nine search warrants on vehicles, individuals and residences,” Swihart said.

Those locations were on the 200 block of South Nordic Drive and the 400 block of Ira II.

Swihart said police recovered a significant amount of evidence, some of which will be used to build a case against the suspects.

“As we sort thorough evidence we’ll come up with a plan with the DA to file additional charges,” Swihart said. “More charges are likely.”

He added Franklin and Estes will be arraigned sometime today.