Law enforcement authorities filed 275 charges against a single teenager who has been arrested eight different times since March this year for participating in "widespread vehicle break-ins."
Officials identified the suspect as a 15-year-old who conducted the crimes across North and South Carolina. However, authorities did not reveal the teenager's identity because they are still a minor.
Teen Facing 275 Charges for Vehicle Break-Ins
In a statement, Charlotte-Mecklenburg police said that despite the teen's arrests, custody orders, and stolen guns found in his possession, he has been ordered to be released twice by a judge.
The teen was also ordered to wear an electronic monitor after at least one of the instances they were arrested by police. However, the suspect allegedly cut it off and was later linked to 100 more break-ins.
Officials also noted that in recent months, the suspect was reportedly charged with various crimes in Mecklenburg County, including attempted larceny of a vehicle, possession of a stolen vehicle, felony conspiracy, and many others, according to MSN.
The teenager is also facing additional charges in at least seven other law enforcement jurisdictions across North and South Carolina. In a social media post, Charlotte-Mecklenburg police said the juvenile and other repeat offenders who disregard the law significantly impact the public perception of crime in Charlotte.
They added that habitual offenders are the reason that crime statistics are increasing, as they increase the number of incidents and victims. This situation creates the misconception of higher crime rates, but in reality, they are committed by the same people.
Officials said that some of the arrests of the teenager who was charged with 275 different counts came at the hands of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department's JADE unit. The latter focuses on juvenile investigations, monitoring at-risk youth, and conducting operations to reduce crime and prevent criminals from reoffending, WBTV reported.
Other Juvenile Crimes
In a similar incident, a teen has been arrested while two others are still wanted for car break-ins in Union County. The one in custody is a 17-year-old who was booked into the Department of Juvenile Justice.
Deputies noted that two others, 19-year-old Kayne Couture Fleming and a 17-year-old, are still at large. The former was described as a 5'9 male who weighed around 165 pounds and had black hair and brown eyes.
Because of the ages of the other suspects, authorities did not share their identities but did say that one juvenile was from Greenville and the other was from Spartanburg, as per WSPA.
