Juveniles Connected to Car Break-ins

Police have connected three youths in a spate of vehicle break-ins throughout the Snellville area.

Snellville Police Chief Roy Whitehead said that one of the youths, a 16-year-old, has been charged with offenses in the county and the city. The teen is suspected in thefts from cars at several addresses, including the Mountain View Road neighborhood, the chief said.

Two other youths also are implicated, and they are also expected to be charged by Gwinnett County and the Snellville Police Department, Whitehead added.

Over the weekend, Whitehead said police units targeted a location where it was believed the suspects had entered vehicles in the unincorporated area of the county. Police observed three males running across the street, and after a struggle, law enforcement was able to take one in custody.

"The other two fled and were not located" at the time, Whitehead said. But, they were later identified by police.

Property from vehicles was recovered. Items included: loose change, boxes of cigarettes, chewing tobacco, book of coupons, a wallet, a key, two pocket knives and gum. 

"The suspect we arrested had been drinking, and we believe they all were," Whitehead said. 

Law enforcement consider some thefts from vehicles to be crimes of opportunity. Safety tips include: locking doors, not leaving valuables visible in cars, and rolling up windows. Extra precautions are advised in the summer.

Crimes like these, Whitehead said, "usually do go up in neighborhoods during the summer."

Snellville Police is asking if anyone in the Mountain View Road neighborhood or area finds his or her car or home broken into to contact them at 770-985-3555.