PCSO Release on Car Burglary In Malta

In the early hours of Saturday, January 11, 2025, dispatch received a phone call from a guardian that a juvenile male was missing from their residence.

The juvenile was on conditions of release for previous criminal activities. Phillips County Deputies searched Malta and surrounding areas for the missing juvenile. Shortly before 0600 hours, dispatch received a phone call from a local business reporting the burglary of their establishment.

Deputies responded and upon reviewing video surveillance footage, it was determined the missing juvenile was the suspect in this burglary. The video also showed the suspect driving a vehicle. The missing juvenile had no driver's license and did not own a vehicle so the description of the vehicle was posted to the Phillips County Sheriff's Office Facebook page.

The Sheriff received a text message from a motorist on US 2 driving east from Hinsdale reporting the possible sighting of the suspect vehicle. Valley County dispatch was notified.

A short time later, the suspect vehicle and suspect were located in Valley County. The suspect was taken into custody, turned over to a Phillips County Deputy, and is currently being held in a juvenile detention facility. The juvenile is facing the following charges: Burglary, Criminal Mischief, Criminal Trespass to vehicles, Driving without a valid driver's license, Possessing intoxicating substances (under the age of 2l), Resisting Arrest, Theft of a motor vehicle, Theft from a building, and Unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.