A nosy neighbor and quick response by Wilkes County deputies caught an Oglethorpe County couple in the act of burglarizing a home in broad daylight Tuesday.

Wilkes County Sheriff's Investigator Bud Harrison said that a passerby noticed a red car in the yard of a home in the 5600 block of Lexington Road about noon Tuesday. Believing that the resident was out of town, he called a friend and confirmed that, indeed, no one should be at the home.

As the concerned citizen went back to the Lexington Road home, he saw that the front door had been kicked in, and the car, a red Volvo, was driving away. The citizen followed the car to Centerville Road, and saw that it was parked at the home of Dr. Erick Pagan. The citizen called 911, and parked and watched the car.

Deputy Jackie Graves was the first on scene, and upon investigation found two individuals coming out of the house. After a short foot pursuit, Graves caught the two and arrested them.

Casey Shelnutt, 30, and Alexus Frei, 17, both of Oglethorpe County, were each charged with two counts of burglary and jailed in the Wilkes County law enforcement center.

Harrison said that he is investigating whether the two have broken into any more houses. "We're expecting to get more calls on this one after people get home from work," he said late Tuesday afternoon. "And Oglethorpe County deputies also suspect these two in burglaries there."

Harrison said there had been an increase in residential burglaries in Wilkes County lately.