Juveniles Arrested for Break-Ins After Hour-Long Search

Hampton police have arrested two juveniles in connection to a string of unlocked vehicle break-ins and thefts in the Dunvegan Woods, High Street and Ocean Boulevard areas over the weekend.

Police Lt. Dan Gidley said the individuals were arrested following a search that started after a resident near the intersection of Ocean Boulevard and Cusack Road reported at 4:50 a.m. Sunday that two bicyclists with backpacks and flashlights were "going into vehicles" in the area.

Gidley said the resident reported that one of the individuals was "going through" each vehicle as the other "stood outside to be a look out." When officers responded to the area, Gidley said both suspects fled and left the stolen items behind.

Police searched the area with the aid of a New Hampshire State Police K-9 unit, according to Gidley. He said one juvenile was located, while the other fled into the nearby marsh.

Police were able to determine the name of the fleeing individual, though, and through contacting his parents were able to reach out to the suspect and convince him to turn himself in, which the juvenile did near Cusack Road after hiding for roughly an hour, said Gidley.

The names of each suspect weren't released, although Gidley did say that the suspect who hid in the marsh was transported by Hampton Fire and Rescue to Portsmouth Regional Hospital for "possible hypothermia" because of the outside air temperature and length of time the individual spent in the marsh.

The juveniles were released to their parents and will face charges in the juvenile court system at a future, unspecified date, according to Gidley.

All 12 of the vehicles targeted Sunday were unlocked, according to Gidley, who said the items taken included several iPods, GPS units and loose change.

Gidley urged everyone to lock their vehicles when left unattended to avoid similar problems in the future. He also asked that all theft victims contact the at 929-4444 to report the crime, as "several" items have been recovered that "have not yet been reported stolen."

Also, anyone with information about this crime or other crimes can anonymously contact the Crimeline for the Hamptons at 929-1222 or at hamptonscrimeline@yahoo.com.