Neighbors Detain Teen Accused of Breaking into Cars, Police say
(CHANNEL 3000) Two men captured and held a 16-year-old who was caught early Thursday morning breaking into one of the men’s vehicles, according to a release from Madison police.
Police were called at 4:19 a.m. to the 3100 block of Dorchester Way in Madison on a report of someone breaking into cars.
A man told police heard his car alarm go off, and looked out to see someone inside his vehicle. He went outside as the thief ran away. The man said he tackled the thief in the grassy median of McKee Road, put him in a bear hug and asked a passerby to call police.
The man’s neighbor also heard the alarm and armed himself before going to where the suspected thief was being held, police said. The man didn’t point the gun, but ordered the teen to stay while police responded.
The teen said he was from Chicago, but police said they could not verify that information. He told police he just happened to be walking in the neighborhood and denied committing any crimes. He was arrested on suspicion of entry into a locked vehicle and on a curfew violation.
Police said there has been a rash of thefts from cars in the area with 22 similar cases in June.