Teen Arrested For Car Burglaries In Oakland Park
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OAKLAND PARK (CBSMiami) -- The Broward Sheriff's Office says a 17-year-old is suspected of being a serial car burglar.
BSO said the broke into a bunch of cars on two nights in October at the La Estancia and Lake Emerald communities. Investigators said he smashed windows and rifled through cars.
"He broke in to many, many vehicles but took very little items and very random things were taken," said Gina Carter, BSO Spokesperson.
His arrest helped put residents in this Oakland Park apartment complex at ease.
"It's great," one resident said. "I'm glad. The whole complex was scared. We thought he was gonna start coming in to the houses."
BSO and residents said the teen used to live in La Estancia which made his crime spree even more unnerving.
"He did admit climbing over the wall in these gated communities and breaking into these cars," Carter said.
BSO said the teen took an restaurant apron out of one woman's car and detectives found it at the crime scene with blood on a booklet inside. Investigators matched that blood to the 17 year old and made the case
"He left his DNA in the crime scene," Carter said. "He left his blood."
All the smashed in windows and items stolen left a heavy burden on the victims.
"He needs to be punished," said a woman whose mother's car was broken into. "He needs to be charged as an adult because he cost money. It's Christmas-time, people could've used that money or what they had to do to get the window fixed."
BSO said they're trying to figure out if anyone else was involved.
Meanwhile, at just 17, BSO said the teen has a lengthy criminal history.
"We're talking about a teenager here but in his case he has a long history of this type of crime," Carter said.