ACPD: Man Charged With Burglary Targeted Homes Of His Former Church Members

The Arkansas City Police Department arrested an Ark City man Friday in connection with three burglaries that occurred while the occupants were at church.

According to a news release from the ACPD Monday, Cristian Alexis Vega-Alvarez, 18, was arrested on suspicion of three felony counts of burglary of a dwelling, three misdemeanor counts of theft of property totaling less than $1,500 in value, and one misdemeanor count of criminal damage to property.

He was transported to and booked into the Cowley County Jail in Winfield on a bond of $19,000 through Cowley County District Court in Ark City.

Vega-Alvarez remained in custody at the time of this release.

Officers were dispatched Friday to 416 N. Sixth St. for a report of a burglary in progress. They arrived and spoke to the home owner, who reported that he had a security camera inside his home.

While attending a local church service, the victim, a 35-year-old Ark City man, observed someone entering his home on the camera and notified police.

Officers cleared the residence and determined the suspect had left before they arrived. Vega-Alvarez was identified as the suspect based on the home security video footage.

The victim said his home had been burglarized a week ago, also while he was attending church, and so he installed the security camera in case the residence was ever burglarized again.

Police later learned another member of the same church, a 29-year-old Ark City man, also had his home at 503 N. Eighth St. broken into while he was attending a church service on Sept. 20.

Officers determined Vega-Alvarez previously was a member of the same church as the victims, but recently had quit attending services. They later located him and took him to the police department for questioning, during which officers learned Vega-Alvarez allegedly had committed all three burglaries.

He was taken into custody without incident and booked into the county jail early Saturday morning.