MOSES LAKE - Moses Lake police officers have taken seven boys into custody for a string of 13 burglaries that occurred in Moses Lake in recent weeks.

The boys, ages 12-15, were booked into the Grant County Juvenile Detention Facility in Ephrata.

About 11:20 p.m. Thursday, officers responded to a burglary alarm at a church in the 400 block of East Brown Avenue.

A resident notified police after spotting two suspects running from the area. Police searched the area and two boys were taken into custody and arrested for the attempted burglary.

The next morning, police responded to more burglaries in the same area. Officers conducted further investigation into the burglaries, and also re-opened other burglary cases in the area.

The investigation ultimately led to the arrest of five more boys, bringing the total to seven.

A total of 13 burglaries, one attempted burglary and four malicious mischief cases were solved.

The suspects were charged in connection to burglaries and malicious mischief committed at one school and five churches on East Nelson Road, one church on South Clover Drive, one school on Evergreen Drive, one church on East Brown Avenue, one church on South Division Street and one home on Paxson Drive.

"It is once again important to note, a concerned citizen was willing to be involved and played an integral role in the apprehension of the initial suspects," Moses Lake Police Chief Dave Ruffin said. "The Moses Lake Police Department would like to thank that citizen, and recognize the outstanding investigation done by several officers working together to arrest those responsible."