Teenager arrested in connection with Swansea car burglaries
A juvenile was arrested by Washington Park police Sunday in connection with several car burglaries in Swansea.
Because of his age, the suspect’s name will not be released. He was with at least three others, who managed to get away.
Swansea police received calls about suspicious people and vehicles in the area of the Chateaux at Woodfield neighborhood Easter morning between 3 and 6 a.m.
Swansea officers arrived at the scene “within minutes” of the first calls at about 7 a.m., a release by the department stated. They spotted a vehicle leaving the area that matched what residents described in their calls to police.
The car headed westbound on Frank Scott Parkway toward Sullivan Drive, Swansea police said.
A Swansea officer attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver fled at a high rate of speed, police said.
“The officer discontinued the pursuit due to the unsafe manner the vehicle was traveling,” according to the release.
St. Clair County Sheriff’s Captain Matt Jany , who is also commander of the Metro-East Auto Theft Task Force, said the vehicle, a Volkswagen that had been reported stolen from St. Louis County, was later spotted in Washington Park.
“The 16-year old suspect jumped into a Ford Explorer that had been stolen from Belleville. Washington Park Police were able to catch and arrest the juvenile and they also located a stolen gun inside the vehicle,” Jany said.
“Three or four” other suspects fled on foot.
Other stolen vehicles from multiple jurisdictions and neighborhoods were recovered near the scene, according to the release from Swansea Police.
Vehicles were reported stolen from the Wolf Branch neighborhood, Woodland Park, and Scottsdale/Buckland neighborhood in Swansea.
“The vast majority of the cars that are being stolen are left unlocked with keys inside,” Jany said. “Lock yours and keep your keys in the house”,
Police are asking home owners in the areas where theft has occurred to share any surveillance photos or video they may have. Those with information should call Detective Gary Reuter at 618-233-8114.
They also may submit information at this URL: https://swanseapdil.evidence.com/axon/citizen/public/aprilvehicletheft?fbclid=IwAR1Bayi-zANM1VNJFO_XnHC65F1dUKGduChcAlGoTBoTL8_RRLRmJHevx14
This story was originally published April 16, 2020 at 3:19 PM.
