3 Teens Caught In String Of Car Burglaries In South Jersey: Police

EGG HARBOR TWP., NJ — Three young teenagers from Atlantic City were charged in a string of car burglaries in several Atlantic County towns, according to Egg Harbor Township police.

The suspects were ages 13- and 14-years-old, two of which had ankle monitors placed on them but had illegally removed them the day prior, police said.

Police were dispatched to Heathercraft Condos in Egg Harbor Township Monday morning for the report of a motor vehicle burglary in process.

The caller said that a car had already been stolen from the complex earlier that morning. At the time of the call, there were three people whom the caller believed were trying to steal another car, police said.

The caller's father confronted the three, who then fled to the west across Fire Road, police said.

A second call came in reporting a possible catalytic converter theft, however, it was one of the three suspects trying to hide, police said.

After being confronted, all three ran into the woods behind businesses on Fire Road, and a perimeter was set up. Following a brief foot chase, all three were caught, police said.

A joint investigation with Pleasantville and Atlantic City police found that the three teens were also responsible for several more vehicle burglaries and at least three stolen vehicles and one other attempt on this same date.

The two who had removed their ankle monitors were placed in Harborfields Juvenile Detention Center; the third was released with an ankle monitor, police said.

All three were charged with multiple offenses including burglary, theft, receiving stolen property and resisting arrest by flight. The investigation is ongoing and additional charges from other jurisdictions are likely.

Police also reminded residents that many times, thieves are looking for "crimes of opportunity."

"We also encourage you to resist the urge to leave keys inside your vehicles for any period of time," police said. "When warming up a vehicle, consider removing the key fob from the hard key if your vehicle does not have remote start, so that it can be locked while warming up."