Neighbors, Police Team Up To Catch Teen Thieves

A neighbor who reported a suspicious vehicle set in motion a chain of events Wednesday morning that led to the recovery of a stolen car and the arrest of three Oakland teens on suspicion of burglary and resisting arrest.

According to San Leandro police the incident began about 10:53 am when they were asked to investigate a suspicious green Grand Cherokee Jeep parked on the 900 block of Arbor Drive in Estudillo Estates.

Officers found the vehicle unoccupied but a registration check revealed that it had been stolen from Livermore.

A witness told officers that he had noticed some young men inside the SUV.

As police looked around for them, another neighbor contacted the officers and said he had just heard glass breaking from behind his house. 

More officers were called to surround the block. One officer saw three young men emerge from between two houses and ordered them to stop.

Two of the suspects stopped after running after a short distance and were detained.

The third continued to flee but was caught a short time later. 

One of the suspects had a shaved vehicle key commonly used to steal vehicles. 

All three suspects were arrested and determined to be juveniles -- ages 16, 14 and 13 years old -- with Oakland addresses.

They were booked and charged with possessing a stolen vehicle, possessing burglary tools, burglary and resisting arrest. 

Police credited the arrests to teamwork between citizens and officers.

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