Denton County sheriff’s deputies were paying special attention to the Lantana area early Saturday because of recent vehicle burglaries and arrested two men as a result, according to a sheriff’s report.

A deputy was patrolling the neighborhood about 2:20 a.m. and saw two men in a car acting suspiciously. The deputy followed the car, which continued to circle the streets, according to the report.

The deputy stopped the vehicle and called for backup. The deputies talked to the two men inside about what they were doing and received different answers.

A pair of brass knuckles, which are illegal weapons, could be seen from the passenger window. That allowed deputies to search the rest of the vehicle. They found property that appeared to have come from three addresses in the area.

When deputies contacted the residents, they found that the property had been stolen from vehicles at the residences. Deputies charged the men, one of whom was from Rhome and the other from Richland Hills, with burglary of a vehicle.

An investigation is continuing to determine whether the men might be connected to several other vehicle burglaries in the Lantana, Bartonville and Argyle areas.

 

Other reports

1200 block of Hopkins Street — A woman told Denton police Sunday that someone apparently used her name, address and telephone number at a hospital where the person went to have a baby.

The woman said she received a call from a doctor’s office inquiring about the baby that was delivered a few weeks ago. The victim explained that she was 71 years old and had not delivered a baby. The victim was actually in another hospital at the time being treated for asthma, she said.

Now she has received a bill from a doctor for delivering “Baby Boy Thompson,” the woman reported.

5800 block of North Interstate 35 — The manager of an antique store reported Sunday morning that someone broke a window to enter the store.

The intruder broke into a jewelry case and took $22,000 worth of rings and necklaces, according to the report.

At midnight Saturday, an alarm sent officers to the business, but there didn’t appear to be anything amiss, according to the police report. Officers arriving two minutes later found no one near the business.

Jeff Trammel, co-owner of the Antique Experience, said the store is offering a $1,000 reward for information about the burglary or the property stolen. Trammel said there were several antique rings and necklaces and a piece of ivory. He thinks the burglars will try to pawn or sell the jewelry.

Anyone with information can call Detective Joe Erwin at 940-349-7958.

1800 block of Crow Street — Police are sorting out the stories of a woman and the man she says threatened her with an AR-15 rifle on New Year’s Day.

Police found the man home alone about 3:40 a.m. after a report from a woman that her boyfriend was threatening her with the rifle.

The man said he was asleep when his former girlfriend awoke him. He could hear voices in the next room, he said, and he retrieved the rifle and went into the living room. Four strangers were in the room in addition to the former girlfriend. He ordered them out at gunpoint.

Officers then contacted the woman, who said she called for permission to visit before she arrived. She said she asked the sleeping man if she could spend the night and he gave permission. Then he walked into the living room with the rifle and threatened everyone. She was upset because the man had not been arrested, according to the report.

 

Roundup

From 7 a.m. Friday to 7 a.m. Monday:

• Denton police responded to 891 calls for service and officer-initiated calls, including one criminal trespass, one burglary, two vehicle burglaries, one attempted burglary, two reports of criminal mischief, two cases of credit card abuse, one identity theft, one theft, two assaults and one runaway.

• Denton County sheriff’s dispatchers handled 744 calls for service and officer-initiated calls. Eighty-nine people were booked into county jail. Deputies took reports of six assaults, two cases of harassment, four thefts, seven vehicle burglaries, five cases of criminal mischief, one credit card abuse, one unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, one fraud, one threat, one missing person and one deceased person.

• Denton firefighters res­ponded to 31 medical calls, one steam investigation, one alarm, six traffic accidents, one de­ceased person, one grassfire, one request to assist police, two illegal burns, one request for public service, one fire and one smoke investigation.

Krum firefighters responded to four medical calls, one traffic accident and one illegal burn.

Sanger firefighters responded to 10 medical calls, two illegal burns and one traffic accident.

Aubrey firefighters responded to two traffic accidents, four medical calls, two alarms, one fire, one suicidal person and one welfare concern.

Lake Cities firefighters responded to three medical calls, one welfare concern, one fire, one illegal burn and one traffic accident.

Ponder firefighters responded to one medical call.

Pilot Point firefighters responded to one request to un­lock a vehicle, one traffic accident and four medical calls.

Oak Point firefighters responded to three medical calls and one fire.

Argyle firefighters responded to one medical call, one childbirth, one welfare concern and one alarm.

DONNA FIELDER can be reached at 940-566-6885. Her e-mail address is dfielder@dentonrc.com .

 

Denton County Crime Stoppers will pay a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest in these or other crimes. Callers will remain anonymous. Call 1-800-388-TIPS (8477). To receive crime alerts in your area, visit CrimeWeb.net.