Secret alarm leads to missing washer
By BRENDA SOMMER bsommer@leader-news.com

El Campo police used their theft-alarm system and a chemical dye to nab a man who allegedly tried to steal a power washer Friday.

In November 2005, Bob Melanson of Commercial State Bank bought a VARDA (Voice Activated Radio Dispatch Alarm) system for the El Campo Police Department after West Wharton County Crime Stoppers approved the idea of buying the system.

Police can set up a vehicle or anything else with the VARDA system, and once someone tries to move the object, its alarm activates back at the police station. Fewer than 24 hours after putting the system to use in 2005, police used it to catch a lawnmower thief.

On Friday, the VARDA system had been attached to a pressure washer sitting in the bed of a parked pickup truck.

Police had also put a chemical dye on the machine that would turn blue upon contact.

When the VARDA alarm went off, an officer went to the area and saw a man walking along a few blocks away, allegedly pulling the washer. He was wearing black gloves and reportedly tried to hide his left hand, but police said the blue dye was found on both gloves.

Diego Ernesto Delgado, 17, of 605 Bruns was arrested at 6:12 p.m. Nov. 23 on a charge of burglary of a vehicle, and the gloves were taken into evidence.

According to Delgado's arrest report, while being booked into custody, he asked officers, "How did y'all catch me? Were y'all watching the place?"

Delgado was transferred to Wharton County Jail the next day, and released that same day on $2,500 bond.