Three young teens are charged in a rash of vehicle thefts in Egg Harbor Township and could face more charges in other towns.
The teens are 13 and 14 years old, with two already facing previous criminal charges that had them on intensive supervision with ankle monitors, according to police.
The two took off the devices a day before they were arrested, township police Capt. Cherie Burgan said.
Police were called to Heathercroft at about 10:20 a.m. Monday for a motor vehicle burglary in progress, according to the report.
The caller told police one vehicle already was stolen from the complex earlier in the morning, and that three suspects returned in what the caller believed was an attempt to steal another vehicle.
The caller's father confronted the teens, who then fled west toward Penny Point Park Apartments, and then across Fire Road in the area of Hingston Avenue, Burgan said.
A second phone call came in for a possible catalytic converter theft in the same area, but it later was determined that it was one of the suspects trying to hide.
After being confronted, the three ran into the woods behind the businesses on Fire Road, according to the report.
Officers and detectives responded to the area and established a perimeter, with the teens taken into custody after a brief foot pursuit, Burgan said.
A joint investigation with Pleasantville and Atlantic City police found the same juveniles are responsible for several more vehicle burglaries and at least three stolen vehicles, and one other attempt, all on Monday, Burgan said.
The two juveniles who had been monitored are now lodged in the Harborfields Juvenile Detention Center. The third teen is now on an ankle monitor.
All three are charged with multiple offenses including burglary, theft, receiving stolen property and resisting arrest by flight.
This is an ongoing investigation that is expected to result in additional charges from other jurisdictions.
Residents are warned not to leave keys inside their vehicles for any period of time. 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, police said.
