PEA RIDGE — Upon returning from an out-of-town holiday trip on New Year’s Day, Hector Garcia found a door ajar on his house and many items missing.

Garcia, who lives on Washburn Drive, immediately called police. During the investigation, it became apparent that the items missing appeared to be the same items found in the possession of three people arrested the week before.

After making a traffic stop on Lee Town Road on Dec. 27,2010, police discovered several electronic items in the vehicle and learned the driver and passengers were wanted.

The driver, Mario Mata, 16, of Rogers, was wanted on a delinquency warrant. He was charged with driving without a driver’s license, failure to stop at a stop sign and no proof of insurance.

He initially gave officers a fictitious name, resulting in a charge of obstructing governmental operations. He was taken to Benton County Juvenile Detention Center.

A passenger, Victor Valdez, 21, of Lowell, was arrested on a warrant from Springdale.

Another passenger, Irais Garcia, 17, was reported to be a runaway and was turned over to Rogers police.

Mata and Garcia have each also been charged with residential burglary and theft by receiving.

Mata is still in Benton County Juvenile Detention Center.

After taking the report, police compared the items, including a Playstation 3, computers, jewelry, DVDs and a DVD player, police connected the two incidents and two of the three persons were charged with burglary/theft. Police are still searching for Valdez.

News, Pages 1 on 01/12/2011