By Monica Land
GULFPORT – Police Chief Alan Weatherford is warning motorists to lock their car doors after three juveniles were arrested for breaking into at least eight vehicles.
Weatheford said on June 11, his department arrested the three youths and charged them with eight counts of vehicle burglary and one count of commercial burglary.
A concerned citizen noticed the youths were involved in what Weatherford called “suspicious activity” and Gulfport police launched an investigation.
“The three juvenile offenders entered five unlocked vehicles in the areas of Windridge Drive, Windward Circle and Big Sky Drive and took items from within,” Weatherford said. “Several of those items were recovered which linked the juveniles to the burglaries.”
Weatherford said the investigation was also able to link the three youths to a break in at the Goldin Sports Complex concessions stand and at three other vehicle burglaries that occurred on May 31.
Weatherford said each of those vehicles were also left unlocked by the owner.
The youths were taken into custody and transported to the Harrison County Youth Detention Facility.
In light of those arrests, Weatherford is urging motorists to take safety precautions when leaving their vehicles.
“Lock your doors,” he said. “Secure your valuables in the trunk if possible and don’t leave anything valuable in plain sight.”
Weatherford also encourages Gulfport residents to call police if they see or hear anything suspicious in their neighborhoods which includes juveniles out after curfew.
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