Burglary Suspect Confesses After Father Recognizes Him In Surveillance Video
SAN PEDRO (CBSLA.com) — A teenage burglary suspect was quick to confess to a string of burglaries throughout San Pedro and Rancho Palos Verdes after his father recognized him in publicized surveillance video images.
Matthew Barcinas, 18, of San Pedro, surrendered to police Tuesday after his father recognized him in an image from surveillance video, published in the Torrance Daily Breeze, the newspaper reported.
Attorney Henry Salcido says Barcinas' father confronted his son after opening the Daily Breeze on Sunday. The family called Salcido, who contacted Los Angeles police detectives Monday to arrange for the teenager's surrender.
"(Barcinas) was very quick to tell me he just felt terrible," Salcido told the newspaper. "He wanted to accept responsibility. He didn't want to fight this. He wanted to correct this the best he could."
Barcinas allegedly took his father's car on a crime spree, smashing in the windows of businesses and taking the cash registers, which he took to another location to pry them open and take the cash.
Salcido would not say why Barcinas allegedly committed the burglaries, but said it was not for the money.
"Whatever he did, obviously it just doesn't fit," Salcido told the Daily Breeze. "It's not in keeping with the kind of young man that everybody knows that he is. He was a star athlete at Mary Star of the Sea High School and comes from a lovely family. Even the family is bewildered by this entire thing."
