Alert Neighbors Help Police Catch Burglary Suspects

Alert neighbors who saw teenagers breaking glass in the door of a house called 911, which allowed police to catch up with at least one suspect, says the Decatur Police Department.

Decatur Police were called to a burglary in progress in the 200 block of Mountain View Street about 7:11 p.m. Tuesday. One neighbor reported seeing four young black males knock on a neighbor’s door and then walk to the rear of the house. The caller heard glass breaking and called 911. Another neighbor yelled at the suspects and they fled in a black Jeep Cherokee.

Officers found the rear door of the home had been forced open and the glass in the door was shattered. No items appeared to be missing. The witnesses were able to provide physical and clothing descriptions and a tag number for the Jeep Cherokee.

A Decatur officer located the Jeep in the 300 block of East Ponce de Leon Avenue and saw a juvenile male running from the area. Another officer stopped the juvenile in the 200 block of East Ponce de Leon Avenue. It was later determined the Jeep had been stolen from a driveway in the 700 block of South Candler Street sometime after 5:45 p.m.

Witnesses identified the juvenile detained by officers as one of the burglary suspects. Police say he had a large screwdriver and empty magazine for a handgun with him. The juvenile, a 14-year-old boy from DeKalb County, was charged with burglary and theft by receiving stolen property.

Decatur Police thanked alert neighbors for looking out, acting quickly and providing detailed descriptions of the suspects. The police depend on residents to call whenever they see suspicious persons, activities or vehicles.