Decatur Police Make Burglary, Entering Auto, Attempted Entering Auto Arrests

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With the help of some eagle-eyed citizens, Decatur police have arrested four teenagers for allegedly committing three separate criminal acts during the last two days.

On Wednesday at 2 p.m., two officers responded to an entering auto call reported in the 400 block of North McDonough Street. According to a witness, two black males broke into a Range Rover, stole a backpack out of the vehicle, and could be found near the gazebo on the square. Decatur police spokeswoman Sgt. Jennifer Ross said that the suspects fled in the direction of the Decatur MARTA station after encountering the officers.

An officer saw the suspect run down the stairs, drop the stolen backpack in a trashcan, then run back upstairs, where he was caught by another officer. The backpack was recovered from the trash can with all items still inside. Officers matched marks on the Range Rover’s passenger window frame with a screwdriver found in the suspect’s front pocket. The suspect is a 15-year-old Atlanta boy who is being charged with entering auto and possession of tools for the commission of a crime, Ross said.

More Crime News From Decatur-Avondale Estates Patch:

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• UPDATE: Carjacking Suspect Shot by DeKalb Police Identified

At 9:13 p.m. the same day, an officer patrolling the area of East Howard Avenue near Hillyer Place spotted a young man with an object in his hand examining parked vehicles, Ross said. The officer called for backup, then approached the man, who claimed he was walking from a nearby restaurant.

One of the officers noticed a vehicle in the parking lot had suffered damage to its passenger side window. The officer retrieved the vehicle’s owner, who said the damage was not there when he first parked. The suspect, 19-year-old Timothy Bolton of Atlanta, was found to be in possession of an eight-pointed instrument which matched the damage patterns on the vehicle, Ross said. He was charged with criminal attempt to commit entering auto, loitering or prowling and possession of tools for the commission of a crime.

On Thursday at 10:55 a.m., an officer responded to a burglary in progress in the 300 block of East Lake Drive. A neighbor called police when he heard glass smash outside his home and saw two black males standing by a shattered window. The neighbor banged on his window, causing the two men to flee, Ross said.

After getting an accurate description from the neighbor, the officer was able to locate the suspects in the vicinity of Oakview Road and Maxwell Street at approximately 11 a.m.. According to Ross, the suspects fled upon seeing the officer, running through backyards and wooded areas in an attempt to escape.

One of the suspects, 17-year-old Brandon Austin Holbrook of Decatur, was found hiding behind a hot tub in the 200 block of Maxwell Street, Ross said. Another officer caught the second suspect, identified as 18-year-old Alex Pelt of Decatur, as he was trying to scale a fence behind an apartment complex in the 1300 block of Oakview Road.

Holbrook and Pelt have been charged with criminal attempt to commit burglary in the 1st degree and misdemeanor obstruction of an officer, Ross said.

“We have had a busy 24 hours,” added Ross. “Note that in two of these cases someone saw something and immediately called us and provided information that led to these arrests.”