Two arrested in string of Iowa City burglaries

Iowa City police have arrested two men in connection to four holiday weekend burglaries.

Marcus L. Harris, 19 , of Coralville, and Donald D. Wood, 23, of Iowa City, were arrested for their involvement in a string of burglaries during the early morning hours Monday.

Police say that at around 12:30 a.m., the two men tried to break into a home in the 300 block of Lucas Street by throwing a brick through a sliding glass door, then fled on foot when the home's occupants awoke.

Then at 2 a.m., police say the pair stole numerous items from a home in the 500 block of South Governor Street after Wood cut a screen and crawled through a window, then let Harris in through the front door.

At around 3 a.m., the pair is accused taking a PS3, X-Box 360, Mac Book computer and multiple video games from a home in the 800 block of Bowery Street after entering through an unlocked side door.

Police found the two men in possession of some of the stolen property at a friend's residence on the 800 block of Bowery Street.

Officers said both suspects admitted to their involvement in the burglaries, and during the interview process one of the suspects implicated himself in a July 3 home invasion that happened in the 400 block of South Lucas Street.

During that July 3 burglary, the home's occupant reported that two black male suspects kicked in the door of the apartment. The pair revealed air-soft guns but claimed they were real shotguns and took property and cash.

Both Harris and Wood are currently being held at the Johnson County Jail on a $83,500 cash bond.

Bryan A. Babcock was also arrested on suspicion of third-degree theft for his involvement in the burglaries. Police said their investigation showed Babcock was asked to take stolen property into Gamers, 201 S. Clinton St. in Iowa City, and use his identification to sell the stolen property.

Babcock admitted to police that he suspected the property had been stolen. Babcock was paid $20 by Harris and Wood to conduct the transaction. The property sold exceeded $500 in value but was sold for a total for $153.