SANTA ROSA BEACH — Four teenagers and two young adults have been arrested in a string of thefts in the Driftwood Estates neighborhood dating from late March, according to the Walton County Sheriff’s Office.
Thomas Howells, 22, and Miguel Garrido Arceo, 16, face the most felony charges for allegedly breaking into three homes, according to a news release from the Sheriff’s Office issued late Monday.
Sometime between March 22 and April 18, they allegedly broke into a home on Driftwood Court and caused about $1,200 damage to a door frame. They stole several fishing poles and a cast net worth $200, according to their arrest reports.
Overnight on April 30, the two allegedly forced their way into a home on Driftwood Point and stole two guns and $25,000 worth of jewelry, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Then on May 16 they attempted to break into a nearby home on East Mack Bayou Drive, but were caught by a neighbor and arrested, the Sheriff’s Office reported.
Howells and Garrido Arceo have been charged with numerous felonies including armed burglary, burglary causing more than $1,000 damage, theft of less than $50,000 and grand theft of a firearm.
Howells allegedly sold some of the stolen property to Jonathan Murphy, 22. Both have charged with dealing in stolen property.
Storm Thayer, 16, was arrested May 1 and charged with two car burglaries on Loblolly Bay Drive earlier that morning. He allegedly stole a pistol and ammunition, a black backpack, a jug of Sangria wine and a pack of cigarettes, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
His charges include armed burglary and grand theft of a firearm.
The final arrests were made July 19 when 18-year-olds Angelo Alexander and Roberto De La Torre were charged in two car burglaries on Initial Lane, the Sheriff’s Office reported.
Alexander allegedly drove De La Torre while he broke into two cars to steal some empty prescription bottles.
All the defendants live in the local area.
The Sheriff’s Office did not include any reason why no information about the robberies or arrests was released sooner.
