Arrests made for string of business and church burglaries in Herndon, pair suspected incidents

Herndon Police Department announced two arrests for a string of burglaries and larcenies.

On July 12, Herndon PD announced a church was broken into twice over the span of a couple days. Surveillance images of two suspects were released, and police urged anyone with information or who could identify the males to reach out.

This week, Herndon PD expressed gratitude to the community noting that the surveillance images helped identify “the offenders” and once they were identified police were able to locate them.

Yesterday, Herndon PD announced 19-year-old Erik Zelaya Franco and 23-year-old Christian Castellanos Lopez were arrested for :

  • Two incidents at a church in the 600 block of Spring Street
  • An incident at a church in the 800 block of Elden Street
  • Two incidents at a business in the 500 block of Florida Avenue
  • An incident at a different business in the 500 block of Florida Avenue

All of these incidents occurred between Tuesday, July 9 and Thursday, July 11, according to Lisa Herndon, public information specialist for Herndon PD.

When Herndon Police announced the church break-ins on July 12, they noted that nothing of significant value was taken.

Surveillance images shared by Herndon Police Department L-R) Erik Franco and Christian Lopez

“We aren’t speculating on motive at this time but hope that with further investigation we will come to learn it,” Herndon said in response to questions about those incidents.

However, there was property of significant value taken from another location, she said. But “until the case is adjudicated, we are unable to divulge what exactly was taken and what its value is,” she added.

Franco, who has no fixed address, is charged with four counts of burglary, grand larceny, felony destruction of property, and felony possession of burglarious tools.

Lopez, a Reston resident, is charged with three counts of burglary and grand larceny.

Additional charges may be forthcoming, said Herndon PD. The department is investigating other incidents to see if they are related, and Herndon PD announced its detectives are in touch with neighboring agencies because Franco and Lopez are suspected in several burglaries nearby.

Both are being held in Fairfax Adult Detention Center.

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