Two Bend teens arrested in convenience store burglary

Two runaways from the J Bar J Boys Ranch east of Bend broke into a convenience store on South Highway 97 early Wednesday, stealing hundreds of dollars’ worth of beer, cigarettes and other items but not getting far before being caught by police, officers said.

Bend police and Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies responded around 2:45 a.m. to the Butler Market Store South on a report of a glass-breakage alarm and learned the burglars had broken the glass on a side door, entered and removed the items, said Lt. Clint Burleigh.

An officer and deputy found the unidentified 16- and 17-year-old Bend residents running away from them and apprehended the pair, the Bend officer sustaining superficial injuries during the arrest, Burleigh said. It is believed most of the property was recovered.

During the break-in the teens caused an estimated $1,000 damage to the glass door and a glass display case, Burleigh added.

Police learned the pair had run away from the J Bar Boys Ranch on Tuesday.

Both were lodged at the Deschutes County Juvenile Detention Center on charges of second-degree burglary, first-degree criminal mischief and second-degree theft.