SPD Detective Bureau Investigation Leads to Nearly Two-Dozen Charges Against Suspects Involved in Car Breaks
Springfield, Mass. — The Springfield Police Department has been investigating numerous car breaks across the city in recent weeks. Several suspects have been arrested and released. Detectives have been investigating several groups of teenagers involved in a string of these thefts driving around in stolen motor vehicles.
On Wednesday September 14th around 2:30 a.m. officers responded to Barrington Drive for reports of individuals breaking into cars.
Around 3:30 a.m. officers located the suspect vehicle the individuals were traveling in on Wilbraham Road. Five suspects then ran into the car and it sped off. The car was reported stolen. Officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop, but the driver refused the stop. As assisting officers arrived the driver continued on St. James Avenue eventually lost control of the vehicle just past the city line on Broadway Street in Chicopee.
All five suspects attempted to run away. Officers were able to catch up to and identify two suspects; a 16-year-old and 15-year-old juvenile.
Springfield Police Detectives under the direction of Captain Trent Duda assigned to the auto-theft unit began investigating. Through speaking with witnesses, victims and reviewing hours of video Detectives were able to request 14 additional charges be added to each juvenile.
“Our Detectives time and effort working these cases we hope pays off. In these cases involving juveniles who are accused of victimizing dozens of our residents we feel a GPS ankle bracelet with a curfew, as these crimes happened in the middle of the night, would be appropriate. I’d also like to commend our officers who were being proactive in looking for, finding and arresting these suspects,” said Springfield Police Superintendent Cheryl Clapprood.
Mayor Domenic J. Sarno stated, “Once again, terrific work by our brave and dedicated Springfield Police Department. These juveniles were on a joy ride in stolen vehicles breaking into cars and stealing property throughout our city. The hard work from our SPD officers and detectives paid off as they were able to locate and arrest these suspects. Police Superintendent Clapprood and I truly hope that these young men will get the wakeup call they need and just as important the support from their families so that they will now stay out of trouble and do something more productive and beneficial with their lives instead of stealing other people’s property. These are young juveniles who still have a chance to make good decisions in life and I know everyone here wants them to do good and stay out of trouble.”
A 16-year-old juvenile male is facing 22 charges related to breaking and entering motor vehicles and a 15-year-old juvenile male is facing 24 similar charges.
The Springfield Police Department reminds you to never leave anything valuable in your unattended vehicles and lock your doors.
