BOYS ARRESTED, RELEASED, ARRESTED AGAIN IN ROBBERY.

Byline: Bhavna Mistry Staff Writer

Two boys arrested Monday as suspects in a series of vehicle burglaries, then released because they had no criminal record, were arrested again Wednesday after an early-morning armed robbery, authorities said.

The 14- and 15-year-old boys were sleeping at their foster home when sheriff's deputies came to question them about the 2:45 a.m. robbery at a nearby mini-mart in the 44400 block of Challenger Way. Authorities say two youths, armed with a 2-inch handgun, got away with $55.15.

Deputies watched a surveillance videotape of the robbery, and identified the suspects as those they had arrested Monday on suspicion of burglarizing vehicles.

``Apparently some of the same clothing was worn,'' said Deputy Chris Keeling. ``Features shown on the surveillance camera appeared to be the same as the ones seen before.''

At the boys' home, officials found a camera and a loaded handgun, which they believe were taken in a July 10 burglary.

Officials said the boys' foster mother was unaware of what the boys were doing.

``She knows that they were leaving but didn't know where they are going,'' Keeling said. ``She doesn't have any control over them.''

The two boys apprehended Wednesday and a third teen were arrested in the vehicle burglaries after a neighbor saw them peering into and trying the doors of several cars.

``It's a clear sign of how community members can assist the Sheriff's Department,'' Keeling said. ``Without her notifying us, we wouldn't have known.''