Three people arrested in Merced burglary spree

MERCED -- Three people were arrested this week in connection with residential burglaries that took place late last year in north Merced, the Merced Police Department reported Thursday.

Jessica Lynn Solis, 22, Lo Meuy Saechao, 30, and Hatsadong Saengphachanh, 26, were taken into custody following an investigation into a series of burglaries in November and December 2012, police reported.

The burglaries occurred in the area of Hunter Drive, Partridge Drive, Mallard Drive, White Dove Avenue and Pelican Drive, according to police.

Police are continuing their investigation to determine whether the suspects are involved in more burglaries in north Merced.

The three suspects also were arrested in connection with a shoplifting incident at a Lowe's hardware store, police said.

Solis was arrested at a residence at 1871 Driftwood, and Saengphachanh was arrested at his residence at 178 La Purisma Court, according to police.

Saechao was in custody at the John Latorraca Correctional Center on Sandy Mush Road for violation of probation when he was rearrested for the burglaries and shoplifting, police said.

According to police, two people would go up to the front door of a residence and knock to see if anybody was home. If no one answered the door, one person would go into the back yard and get into the residence by prying open a window or kicking in the back door or garage door.

Once inside the house, police said, the person would let in the others and they would ransack the house in search of valuables, including jewelry, money, coin collections, computer equipment, televisions and tools, police said.

They would then leave the residence and get into a dark-colored Honda Accord, according to police, who found the car parked near Saengphachanh's residence when he was taken into custody, police said.

Some of items taken in the burglaries were recovered and returned to their owners, police said. However, police think most of the items were traded for money or narcotics.

Police ask anyone with information about the burglaries to call Detective Paul Johnson at (209) 385-7742, Detective Brian Rodriguez at (209) 385-4710, or the Merced Police Department tip line at (209) 385-4725.