Citrus fruit peels lead detectives to Fresno burglary suspects

After burglarizing a home in Fresno of $4,000 worth of jewelry and electronics, two thieves peeled off in an SUV.

But the pair apparently picked the wrong place to get a boost of vitamin C.

Fresno County sheriff’s officials said the burglars left peels from tangelos on the floor of a room in the home.

Less than a week later, on Tuesday morning, investigators found traces of the same citrus fruit when they stopped an SUV that two suspects in the burglary were known to borrow.

That afternoon, a Fresno County sheriff’s detective detained Patrick Kasper, 22, and his girlfriend, Dianna Henson, 20, as they walked near Highway 99 and Olive Avenue. The pair, whom sheriff’s officials described as having “extensive criminal histories,� were wanted on felonies.

“Kasper was found to have a loaded gun and a key to a room at a motel,� a sheriff’s statement read. “Detectives searched the room and recovered several items which were stolen during different burglaries at homes in north Fresno.�

Kasper and Henson were booked into Fresno County Jail on suspicion of burglary, drug possession, possession of a loaded gun and probation violation, according to the sheriff’s statement.

After the Jan. 7 burglary, a witness reported seeing people matching descriptions of Kasper and Henson near the home, the statement said.

Kasper’s mug shot reveals a tattoo of brass knuckles on his right cheek and a tattoo of what appears to be a dog paw on his left check. Other tattoos crawl up his neck and around his chin.

The person stopped in the SUV on Tuesday was not a suspect in the burglary, sheriff’s officials said, but the vehicle was used by Kasper and Henson “to get around.�

And inside the SUV, officials found tangelos, a hybrid of tangerine and grapefruit or pomelo.

Detectives are now trying to determine whether Kasper and Henson could be responsible for other break-ins in Fresno County.

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