Police on St. Croix arrested burglary suspect Jose Acevedo Saturday in Christiansted, shortly after police say he committed another break-in.
According to a VIPD news release, Acevedo was videotaped burglarizing a Fort Luis Augusta condominium Jan. 20. That recording was placed on the VIPD Facebook page with an appeal to the community to help police find this suspect. According to the department, the police received several tips on Acevedo’s whereabouts since posting the video.
At about 9 p.m. Saturday the suspect was spotted by a police officer in Gallows Bay. When the officer approached Acevedo, the suspect took off running.
Several units, including a K-9 unit, were called in to assist with the capture. Police tracked the suspect and told him to stop running. He refused to stop and the police dog was deployed.
Acevedo was finally discovered in a genip tree. He was arrested and charged with the Jan. 20 burglary, in which jewelry valued at $100,000 was reported stolen.
While being searched, Acevedo was found in possession of more jewelry, a utility knife set and other items, which were later identified as taken from a burglary in Estate Mahogany Welcome that occurred about 15 minutes before he was spotted by the officer.
Acevedo was held on $75,000 bail for the Jan. 20 burglary and $35,000 bail for the Jan. 29 burglary. Police said Acevedo is on probation from an earlier burglary and may face additional charges imposed by the court.
The V.I. Police consider the 45-year-old Acevedo a “career criminal.” He has been arrested more than 25 times since 1984 and has been sentenced to jail on several occasions. Police said they expect Acevedo’s arrest to drastically decrease the incidences of burglaries on St. Croix.
