Officers located the suspects within 15 minutes, stopping them just down the road. Investigators believe they are tied to additional burglaries at other hotels.
SAN MARCOS, Texas — An attempted car burglary outside a San Marcos hotel led officers to three suspects and a stolen gun linked to multiple break-ins — part of what police believe may be a larger organized effort targeting area hotels.
The incident happened around 3:30 a.m. Nov. 23 at the Homewood Suites on the 400 block of Barnes Drive. Police say the victim was sitting in his vehicle when three people tried to open his car door.
“There were several items of property that were reported stolen. One was recovering a stolen firearm,” said Sgt. Michael Casillas with the San Marcos Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division. “It seems to be very common nowadays, especially here in San Marcos.”
Officers located the suspects within 15 minutes, stopping them just down the road. Investigators believe they are tied to additional burglaries at other hotels the same morning.
The suspects — 17-year-old Joseph Solis, 18-year-old Ray Gaona Valdez and 23-year-old Elijah Aragon, all from San Antonio — were arrested and later released on bond from the Hays County Jail.
Casillas said the case appears connected to larger burglary rings making trips from San Antonio to target San Marcos properties.
“In San Marcos, we’ve been trying to focus on violent crime, and we’ve had a significant reduction,” Casillas said. “Part of that violent crime is allowing access to firearms to violent people. We’re trying to get ahead of the game, so to speak.”
Police say the total number of people involved in these burglary rings remains unknown. According to investigators, the suspects admitted there were multiple groups operating in the area.
San Marcos police are reminding drivers to hide valuables, lock their vehicles and take their keys.