Port Allen teen held in home burglary

PORT ALLEN — Police officers and sheriff’s deputies arrested an 18-year-old Port Allen man in connection with a residential burglary in the 600 block of Maryland Avenue, authorities reported Wednesday.

Tyrone Thomas Jr., of 509 Azalea St., was booked Tuesday at the West Baton Rouge Detention Center on one count of simple burglary of an inhabited dwelling and one count of simple criminal damage to property, according to a Police Department news release.

Thomas was arrested about 2 p.m. after the owner of the house gave investigators a detailed description of a man he saw fleeing from the rear entrance of his residence, Police Chief Ken Bates said in the news release.

Bates said the victim’s account helped police and West Baton Rouge sheriff’s deputies make a quick arrest.

The Police Department has seen a sudden increase in residential burglaries, Bates said, and encourages Port Allen residents to be mindful of their own property and their neighbors’.

Bates said the department has several break-ins under investigation and expects more arrests in the near future.