SAVANNAH, GA (June 24, 2015): Three juveniles are in custody after a victim and a bystander led Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police in a foot pursuit following break-ins of two vehicles in downtown Savannah Tuesday. One of the suspects had been released from a juvenile detention center a day earlier.
Downtown Precinct patrol units were flagged down by the owner of an SUV that had been entered at the Chatham Area Transit (CAT) bus station at 900 E. Gwinnet Street at 11:45 a.m. At the same time, a witness was following the juveniles on foot and was soon joined by responding officers.
The juveniles were apprehended after a brief pursuit, returning cell phones, cigarettes and a knife stolen from a vehicle. A tablet computer and another cell phone were recovered hidden under a church in the area.
The juveniles were transported to the Regional Youth Detention Center.
Two of the youths also had been detained last Friday when police converged on a shed that was broken into behind a house on Rose Dhu Glen Drive. One, who already was on probation, was charged after police found marijuana, cigarettes and stolen credit cards in his pockets. He had been placed under house arrest on Monday. The other had been turned over to his mother last Friday.
Police Chief Joseph H. “Jack” Lumpkin Sr. said the case should be alarming to the Savannah community:
“That youths this age already are prolific offenders is as much a cry for help as a crime,” he said. “I am concerned … and the rest of this community should be as well … that someone this young already so openly breaks the law and is allowed to do so. I can only guess what the future may hold for some of these youngsters if no intervention is provided. But our officers can do only so much.”
He also thanked the citizens, “for their participation in the shared responsibility of public safety,” adding, “Police need the citizenry’s eyes and ears to be effective.”
Anyone with information on the identity of the fourth suspect is asked to call Crimestoppers at (912) 234-2020 or text CRIMES (274637) using the keyword CSTOP2020. Tipsters remain anonymous and may qualify for a cash reward.
A Tip Line also is open directly to investigators at (912) 525-3124 and most area clergy have agreed to serve as liaisons for anyone who would like to share information with police anonymously.
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