Nosey neighbor helps catch burglars

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Austin police were able to catch two burglars, thanks to a nosey neighbor.

It was 10:40 a.m. on Dec. 3 when a resident on Jubilee Trail heard the dogs barking at his neighbor’s home.

"He could see two males knocking and looking in the front windows of that house,” said Cpl. Scott Perry, with the Austin Police Department. “They went around to the back of the house and he started hearing banging. He thought for sure someone was breaking into his neighbor's house."

Police said the neighbor did the right thing and immediately called 911. The neighbor stayed on the telephone and gave the operator a detailed description of the two suspects. When officers arrived, they knew who they were looking for in the case.

“He got a very good description clothing, the race, the height, everything,” said Cpl. Perry. “That good description put it out. So when the officer arrived and started looking in the neighborhood, they were able to get those two people.”

Aeron Xadro Longstreet, 19, and Eric Rivero Rebollar, 18, were captured about half-a-mile from the house. They had a camera and an Ipod, allegedly taken from the scene of the crime.

"We were very shocked, especially that it happened in broad daylight,” said Sarah Elledge, who lives in the cul-de-sac. “I stay at home and she stays at home, and several of us are home during the day. It definitely was a bit unsettling."

Elledge and her family choose this South Austin neighborhood for safety reasons, which can add to the disturbing factor of the crime.

Police warn that, shockingly, most burglaries are committed during the daytime hours.

"Daytime burglaries are unfortunately a common occurrence,” said Cpl. Perry. “Burglars know most of the time, during the day, people are at work, and people are at school. They are not at home."

While there is relief over the suspects’ arrest, there is also a renewed sense of looking out for each other.

"Everybody's looking out for each other and [has] a heightened sense of security,” said Elledge.

Rivero-Rebollar and Longstreet are both charged with felony counts of burglary of habitation.