Suspect in multiple burglaries arrested

Riverside, Ca- A suspect linked to 10 felonies over the past year was arrested Thursday, September 14, 2006, by Riverside Police bicycle officers following a tip. A private security guard reported a suspicious man loitering near a business.

Ruben David AZEVEDO, 22, of Riverside, is linked to a series of seven commercial burglaries in the general area of Spruce Street and Chicago Avenue, beginning July 13 in the 1600-block of Marlborough Ave., through Sept. 12 in the 1600-block Spruce St. All the businesses were broken into at night with entry gained by throwing a rock through a window. All are within walking distance of each other.

Azevedo is also a suspect in at least one vehicle burglary, a March 2006 auto theft of a 1991 Mercedes Benz, and the September 26, 2005 robbery of a 90-year-old male pedestrian. All items stolen were allegedly traded to support a drug habit.

The suspect was spotted about 3 p.m. Thursday in the area of Chicago and Spruce. He was arrested on an outstanding misdemeanor warrant. During the subsequent investigation he was linked to the 10 felonies. The investigation continues.

Anyone with information helpful to this investigation, or who may have been victim to a similar crime in that immediate area, is asked to contact Detective Kevin Townsend at (951) 826-5225.