Juveniles in custody after string of car break-ins

By Garrett Ammesmaki,

Editor

Correction: A previous version of this article stated there have been no reports of forced entry. While some reported their cars were locked when they were broken into, Tea police said they have found no evidence of forced entry.

Three suspects have been arrested in connection to a string of break-ins involving unlocked cars in Tea, according to the Tea Police Department.

Officers received reports of suspicious activity late Wednesday, Aug. 10 through the early morning hours of Aug. 11, and were able to get a description of the vehicle involved. When officers tried to pull the suspects over, the vehicle took off, according to Tea Police Chief Jessica Quigley.

When officers found the vehicle again, five suspects fled on foot.

After setting up a perimeter, they were able to apprehend three suspects around 2:30 am in a neighborhood off 271st Street and North Main Avenue.

Those in custody are all juveniles with Sioux Falls addresses. They are still looking for two others that were in the vehicle.

So far, they have received nine reports of unlocked vehicles being broken into throughout the night. Though there have been reports of some cars being locked at the time, TPD said they have found no evidence of forced entry.

“It’s times like these that we really want to stress the importance of locking your vehicle,” Quigley said. “Generally, these thieves just want to hit as many cars as they can in the quickest amount of time, so they’re not going to take the time to necessarily break into them.”

Anyone with information regarding the break-ins, such as video footage from doorbell cameras or dash cam footage, can call the Tea Police Department’s non-emergency line at 605-498-5577.