LAKEPORT – Police have in custody two suspects they believe are responsible for two unrelated commercial burglaries that took place this week.

Lt. Brad Rasmussen of Lakeport Police reported that officers were dispatched to the report of suspicious circumstances at the Lakeport Express Mart early Monday morning.

Rasmussen said the investigating officers determined that someone had forced entry and burglarized the business, taking approximately $750 in retail merchandise.

The evidence officers found at the business led them to a possible suspect, said Rasmussen – a 16-year-old male juvenile, who they later found later that morning at a Lakeport home.

Lakeport Police officers searched the residence and located most of the property stolen at Express Mart, according to Rasmussen. They subsequently arrested the male juvenile for burglary and booked him into Juvenile Hall.

At approximately 9:30 a.m. the same day, Lakeport Police officers were sent to investigate another reported burglary at Dream Machine Customs, said Rasmussen.

At that business, officers also found another forced entry, with $2,300 in retail merchandise stolen, Rasmussen reported. They also found evidence they believed could help them identify the responsible suspects.

On Tuesday morning, Rasmussen said officers were dispatched to a local stereo shop to investigate a lead related to the Dream Machine Customs burglary.

There they found 20-year-old Edgar Christopher Perez of Kelseyville, who Rasmussen said was in possession of a considerable amount of the stolen merchandise from Dream Machine Customs.

Rasmussen said police arrested Perez for possession of stolen property and transported him to the Lake County Jail, where he was booked for receiving stolen property and having less than 1 ounce of marijuana in his possession while driving a vehicle.

Perez, whose occupation was listed as a grocery bagger, remained in custody Tuesday night on $10103 bail, according to Lake County Jail records.

Rasmussen said Lakeport Police believes there are additional suspects involved in the Dream Machine

Customs burglary, and they're continuing their investigation.

Police don't believe the Dream Machine Customs and the Lakeport Express Mart burglaries are related, said Rasmussen.

Rasmussen said police also are investigating a series of commercial storage shed burglaries that occurred in Lakeport between Sept. 29 and Oct. 1.

He said it's not yet known if these burglaries are related to the retail store burglaries.

E-mail Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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