UTICA — Three juveniles have been arrested in connection with a multi-week spree of vehicle thefts and break-ins that affected Utica and several neighboring jurisdictions.
The Utica Police Department said the suspects, ages 13, 17 and 13, were responsible for numerous larcenies of and from motor vehicles over recent weeks.
Police said investigations revealed the same group was likely committing the crimes across multiple jurisdictions, prompting increased coordination among agencies.
Surveillance cameras captured the individuals breaking into structures to steal keys and property before driving vehicles away, stealing vehicles with keys inside, or taking property from cars, police said.
On one night in early September, the group struck three different locations, stealing and breaking numerous items of property, according to police.
The Yorkville Police Department’s investigative work led to the positive identification of one individual, which helped identify the other suspects, police said.
The 13-year-old suspects each face charges including criminal mischief in the fourth degree, grand larceny in the fourth degree for credit card theft, two counts of grand larceny in the fourth degree for motor vehicle theft, and criminal mischief in the third degree.
One of the 13-year-olds also faces criminal mischief in the second degree and attempted burglary in the third degree charges.
The 17-year-old faces the same charges as well as criminal tampering in the first degree.
Police said additional charges may be filed if other investigations determine the juveniles were responsible for more crimes.
Partner agencies will file their own charges related to their respective investigations, police said.
The identities of the suspects will not be made public because they are juveniles.
