St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office arrests three teens in connection with rash of car burglaries in Chalmette

The St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office arrested several Chalmette teenagers in connection with a rash of car burglaries that occurred recently in Chalmette, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

Three subjects were arrested in connection with the case involving six car burglaries which took place on April 18 at approximately 7 p.m.

A 14 year old and a 16 year old were both booked with six counts of vehicle burglary, and a 15 year old was booked with six counts of simple burglary.

The burglaries took place in the 3300 block of Veronica Drive, the 3300 block of Lyndell Drive, the 3200 block of Decomine Street, the 3300 block of Marietta Drive and the 3300 block of Plaza Drive.

Detectives with the Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Bureau obtained video surveillance footage of the three suspects burglarizing the vehicles, and worked along with local school resource officers to identify the three suspects.

Once in custody, Sheriff Pohlmann said, all three teens admitted their involvement in the burglaries. Stolen items, including several wallets containing debit and identification cards, were recovered at the home of one of the teens, and a victim’s purse was recovered from where one of the teens reported hiding it.

A criminal history check on the teens revealed the 15 year old was arrested in July 2017 for vehicle burglary.

All three teens were transported to the St. Bernard Parish Juvenile Detention Center to be booked.

The investigation is ongoing and additional charges may be filed.

The Sheriff’s Office is asking residents who have had their vehicles burglarized to report any suspicious activity by calling (504) 271-2501.

In all of the cases, Sheriff Pohlmann said, the victims’ vehicles were unlocked.

Sheriff Pohlmann urges residents to keep their vehicles locked at all times in an effort to deter criminals from committing a “crime of opportunity.”

“This is why it’s very important to make sure your vehicles are locked at all times,” Sheriff Pohlmann said. “Locking your vehicle and not leaving items of value, especially guns, in plain sight can greatly reduce your chances of being the victim of theft.”