4 teens arrested for breaking into North Richland Hills home

NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, Texas - Police in North Richland Hills arrested four teenagers after a homeowner found them inside the house.  

What We Know: The burglary happened on Sunday afternoon at a home on Janetta Drive.

Ricardo Ortega and Jose Sanchez, who purchased the house to fix it up and rent it out, said they drove by around 5 p.m. and noticed the lights were on.

Ortego went around back to check it out.

"I saw three or four people inside my house," he said.

North Richland Hills police officers quickly arrived and detained the teens – a 14-year-old girl, two 15-year-old boys, and a 19-year-old man.

Police searched them and said one suspect had a loaded handgun magazine. A handgun was found hidden in the attic.

All four teens are now charged with criminal trespassing, and one of the 15-year-old boys is charged with the unlawful carrying of a weapon.

What We Don’t Know: More information about the 19-year-old suspect, including his name, will be released in an arrest warrant affidavit after he sees a magistrate judge.

The names of the juveniles will not be released because of their age.

It’s unclear why the group broke into the home, but the homeowners said it reeked of marijuana once they were allowed back inside.

What People Are Saying: Knowing the group had a gun, Ortega and Sanchez cannot help but to think about what could have gone wrong.

They’re just glad that the teens didn’t see Ortega when he went around back. 

"They see me, maybe shoot me. I don’t know," he said.

Instead, he was able to safely get away to call the police.