The arrest of two juveniles Saturday may be the break Live Oak Police need in a string of 24 home invasion robberies in the city, according to LOPD Chief Buddy Williams.

Williams said two juveniles, Jerome Cooks, 16, of Ana Avenue, and 16-year-old Jaron Devonte Webb, of SW 8th Street, arrested on separate charges Saturday afternoon, may have ties to the home invasions.

“This is definitely, hopefully, the break we’re looking for,” said Williams Monday afternoon.

According to Williams, Cooks was arrested by LOPD for allegedly robbing an Hispanic man at gunpoint in front of the JK Food Mart on Northeast Ohio Avenue.

When the victim told Cooks he didn’t have any money, Cooks allegedly snatched a watch off his wrist then fled the area on a blue bicycle. Williams said Cooks was spotted shortly thereafter in the area of the convenience store after a BOLO (be on the lookout) was issued. He was apprehended by LOPD at the intersection of 6th Street and Walker Avenue and charged with armed robbery. Williams said Cooks was dressed in black, as were the perpetrators of the home invasion robberies. Williams said although a gun was not found at the time of Cooks’ arrest, the victim told police that Cooks pointed a gun at him and demanded money.

Webb was apprehended shortly after Cooks by the Suwannee County Sheriff’s Office. According to an early report from LOPD, that agency was responsible for both arrests.

According to a sheriff’s report, Webb, whom Williams told the Democrat is also a suspect in the home invasions, was apprehended by sheriff’s deputies after being observed “attempting to shove an object into his pants” while walking down Johnson Avenue and 6th Street around 12:31 p.m. After a search, Webb was found to have a .380 caliber pistol in his right front shorts pocket, the report shows. The deputies were assisting LOPD in the investigation of the earlier robbery when Webb was spotted, authorities say.