Provo police nab five in parking lot theft cases

Provo police have arrested five suspects in two separate early-morning vehicle burglary cases.

Police Chief Rick Gregory said that in both cases his officers confiscated multiple items of stolen property, which have since been returned to their rightful owners.

Three of the suspects were nabbed early Sunday morning after a 911 call came in reporting the trio going from car to car in a parking lot near 750 East and 500 North, checking door handles for unlocked vehicles. About 4 a.m., police found and arrested three male juveniles.

The other two arrests came about 3:20 a.m. Monday near 500 North and 500 East. There, a Provo police officer on foot patrol spotted two male suspects, ages 24 and 20, lurking in another parking lot. The two were arrested and booked into Utah County jail on suspicion of vehicle burglary, theft and possession of stolen property.

Gregory said the arrests were proof of the value of citizen vigilance in cracking down on vehicle-related break-ins.

"Citizens who take pride in their neighborhood permit a sense of community to thrive and significantly reduce the likelihood that serious crimes will occur," he said.

remims@sltrib.com