The arrest Friday of three South Lake Tahoe residents may have broken up a burglary ring that was going on in South Lake Tahoe, El Dorado County and Douglas County.

Douglas County sheriff’s deputies said they caught Jeffrey Lee Stephens, 44, Jean Rene Winters, 45, and Joseph Alan Winters, 48, while they were inside a residence Oct. 18 in Valley Crest Estates, located in north Douglas County.

Investigators from the three jurisdictions’ law enforcement agencies have been working together to solve a string of burglaries.

“The investigation has so far revealed that the suspects may be responsible for other residential burglaries committed throughout the region,” Sgt. Jim Halsey with Douglas County said in a press release.

He said at the time of arrest deputies recovered several stolen items.

The suspects allegedly forced entry into the residence where they were caught.

Anyone who has seen the suspects or the white 2000 Ford Explorer they drove, is asked to call DCSO Investigators Ted Duzan or John Preston at (775) 782.9905.

— Lake Tahoe News staff report