<b>By Christin Coyne</b><br><a href="mailto:ccoyne@mineralwellsindex.com">ccoyne@mineralwellsindex.com</a>
Two people are in custody and a warrant was issued for a third in connection with a multi-county burglary operation that operated from a Fort Worth apartment and hit residences in Palo Pinto and Parker counties.
A string of burglaries south of Mineral Wells since Jan. 5 put local law enforcement into action.
Twenty-five law enforcement units combed the southern portion of the county into the Millsap area Thursday morning, including Palo Pinto County sheriff's deputies, Mineral Wells Police Department officers, members of the City-County Narcotics Unit, Palo Pinto County Game Wardens, the Texas Department of Public Safety Highway Patrol, the DPS narcotics unit and Parker County law enforcement.
“I think we made a showing out there,” Palo Pinto County Sheriff Ira Mercer said.
Nichole McAlexander, 22, of Fort Worth, was in the Palo Pinto County Jail Friday on a charge of theft of a firearm after being arrested Thursday at a Fort Worth apartment, according to Mercer. Her arrest came in response to a rash of afternoon trailer house burglaries in Palo Pinto County this month.
An intelligence-sharing meeting with Parker County and federal law enforcement officials Thursday morning reportedly led to McAlexander's arrest.
Federal law enforcement authorities have a Fort Worth man in custody and a Parker County warrant has been issued for another woman allegedly involved in the burglaries, according to Mercer. He said he expects further charges, including burglary of a habitation, to be filed against McAlexander and others suspected in the Palo Pinto County burglaries.
In addition to seven previous burglaries south of Mineral Wells, residents in the 5700 block of Village Bend Road, the 300 block of Twin Oaks Road and the 100 block of Tack Road reportedly came home Wednesday evening to find their homes broken into and items missing.
Witnesses described two females sitting in a red car, according to Mercer.
A red car matching the description and the tire prints gathered by Palo Pinto investigators were found at the Fort Worth apartment, Mercer said.
Items in the apartment have been linked to all 10 burglaries and most of the items stolen in the three burglaries Wednesday were recovered, according to Mercer.
Items stolen included everything from electronics, guns, baby diapers, laundry detergent, cooking utensils and perfume.
They will also be discussing the possibility of a federal case with the U.S. attorney's office, Mercer stated.
