CITRUS HEIGHTS, Calif. (PSN) — A 19-year-old man was arrested within four minutes of a reported jewelry store robbery after Citrus Heights police used real-time camera technology to track the fleeing suspect, authorities said.
The Citrus Heights Police Department announced the arrest Monday evening, saying officers were called Sunday afternoon after a man reportedly ran from a jewelry store inside a mall carrying a bag and a hammer.
As patrol officers responded, members of the department's Real-Time team located the suspect on nearby cameras as he ran through the parking lot, according to police. The team continued monitoring the suspect and provided responding officers with live updates on his location.
Police said patrol officers safely detained the suspect within four minutes of the original call.
Officers recovered more than $79,000 worth of jewelry allegedly stolen during the robbery.
The investigation continued after the arrest.
Detectives obtained search warrants for the suspect's residence and a vehicle associated with him that was found in the parking lot. During those searches, investigators recovered additional evidence that police said connected the suspect to a July burglary at the same jewelry store in which approximately $30,000 worth of jewelry was stolen.
Police identified the suspect as 19-year-old Xenon Picou and said he was arrested on suspicion of robbery and burglary.
The department credited coordination between patrol officers, its Real-Time team and detectives with the rapid arrest and subsequent development of the burglary case.