8 juveniles arrested after rash of car burglaries

The St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office has made eight arrests in connection with vehicle burglaries that took place in Mimosa and Destrehan.

All those arrested were juveniles and the burglaries in Mimosa are not connected to the ones in Destrehan.

Six of the juveniles were arrested in connection with five car burglaries in the Mimosa Park subdivision. Those arrested lived in the area.

“Subsequent questioning of the perpetrators revealed that they attempted to enter several dozen vehicles, but found most locked,” Champagne said. “This particular activity has become more common everywhere and is know as ‘car hopping.’”

Two juveniles were also arrested in connection with several vehicle burglaries in the Destrehan area.

During these burglaries several unsecured vehicles were broken into and some vehicles were stolen, according to the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Two of the stolen vehicles were located in Jefferson Parish.

As a result of an extensive multi-jurisdictional investigation between the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office, Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office and Kenner Police Department the 14 and 15-year-old juveniles were arrested.

They have been charged with one count of simple burglary and four counts of auto theft.

Both juveniles are being held at the St. James Juvenile Detention Center.

Vehicle burglaries tend to increase in the summer months. In 2009, a year in which a particularly high number of vehicle burglaries were reported, there were 118 incidents from May through September.

“While we can’t predict when thieves will go ‘car hopping,’ it is a good time to remind everyone that the best precautionary action is to lock our vehicles and remove valuables from them,” Champagne said.