VALDOSTA, Ga. (WTXL) - A 14-year-old is being charged after police say he went on a multi-day crime spree, breaking into a deputy's car, tasing a woman and stealing a family member's car.
The Valdosta Police Department says that on Aug. 16, nine people reported that their cars had been broken into at an apartment complex in the 1500 block of East Park Avenue.
They say that one of those cars belonged to Lowndes County deputy who reported that a taser, badge and gun magazines had been stolen.
On Aug. 18, police received a report that a woman had been tased by an unknown male while at the same apartment complex as the earlier incident.
They say the suspect left the scene before police arrived and could not be found.
On Tuesday around 2:15 p.m., a VPD officer was in the 900 block of Melrose Avenue when he saw a male being chased by a woman carrying a broomstick.
The woman told the officer that the male, a family member, had stolen her car. While speaking with the officer, the male, later identified as a 14-year-old, dropped two .40 caliber magazines onto the ground.
VPD says the officer searched the area and found another magazine and the taser that had been stolen from the deputy’s vehicle on Aug. 16.
As a result of an interview and further investigation, police are charging the teen with several counts of entering a motor vehicle with the intent to commit a theft or felony and reckless conduct for tasing the woman.
Police say that though the teen tased the woman, evidence suggests he was playing with the taser when he unintentionally tased her.
“Each year, approximately 1.8 million vehicles are broken into across the country. The following are a few tips to prevent thefts from vehicles:
- Lock your car door and close all windows
- Don’t leave any items in sight- place items in trunk or take with you
- Place items in the trunk before you park- don’t advertise what you have in the car
- Invest in a car alarm, or other anti-theft device
- Park in well-lit areas, if possible
“You may not be able to prevent every theft, but you may be able to reduce the risk of becoming a victim by following these few simple steps. And as always, if you see someone walking around cars and acting suspicious, call 911 and report it. We, and all law enforcement agencies, need the public’s assistance to combat this problem”, said Captain Kari Williams. “I am very proud of the efforts of the K-9 Officer in this case who followed up and helped solve nine (9) felony vehicle break-ins”, stated Chief Brian Childress.
