In a gripping turn of events, three teenagers suspected of orchestrating a string of burglaries across metro Atlanta were taken into custody on Tuesday evening in Sandy Springs following a high-speed chase.
911 calls poured in as concerned residents spotted individuals dressed in dark clothing and ski masks near Hammond Drive and Peachtree Dunwoody Road.
The focus of law enforcement shifted to two of the teens, driving a reportedly stolen Hyundai Sonata, leading to a pursuit by the Sandy Springs Police. The chase covered just over a mile before culminating in a crash along Perimeter Center Parkway near Lake Hearn Drive.
Following the collision, the teens attempted to flee but were swiftly apprehended within five minutes.
Investigators believe that these two, in collaboration with another teen arrested the following night, were the individuals responsible for a series of crimes across multiple counties in recent weeks. Sandy Springs Police Sgt. Leon Millholland highlighted the extensive nature of their activities, involving auto break-ins, smash-and-grab burglaries, and stolen vehicles across Gwinnett, Fulton, DeKalb, and Cobb counties.
Notably, it was revealed that the duo had formed a connection at the Metro Regional Youth Detention Center, which extended to their collaborative criminal activities. Sgt. Millholland expressed gratitude to citizens for promptly reporting suspicious activity, stating, “We’re thankful to the citizens for calling in the suspicious activity because with their help we were able to apprehend these individuals and fend off the crime spree that’s been going on for several weeks.”
Further details indicated that on the night of their arrest, the teens used MARTA for transportation to Sandy Springs, where they carried out multiple crimes involving automobiles, according to investigators.
A silver Kia Optima, stolen that night, was later used in a burglary in Gwinnett County and remains unrecovered.
Additionally, the teens were implicated in two smash-and-grab incidents in Sandy Springs on Jan. 22. The arrests represent a significant breakthrough in curbing the recent surge in criminal activities across the metro Atlanta area, offering a sigh of relief to residents and law enforcement. Stay tuned for ongoing developments in this unfolding investigation.
