Three Central Florida teens were arrested for multiple car burglaries and a stolen firearm.
According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, the teenaged car burglary suspects who had been “flipping handles” in the Jan Phyl Village area of Winter Haven had their 10-day crime spree interrupted by PCSO deputies at the end of last month.
Local deputies responded to Timberline Road West to a reported car burglary from the night before, during which cash and money orders from the victim’s wallet were stolen from within her unlocked vehicle. Video surveillance from homes in the area captured a black male suspect wearing all black clothing, white slides, white gloves, and carrying a black backpack with a Nike logo, flipping handles on car doors.
A 9mm Ruger P95 handgun and some cash was stolen from an unlocked car on Timberline Road East. The following morning, the victim contacted PCSO and deputies responded. Video surveillance in that area revealed two suspects flipping handles on car doors.
Two more vehicle burglaries were reported the same day from Harmon Lane nearby, and additional video footage was obtained showing the same suspects, carrying the Nike backpack from the older investigation. A $400 remote control was stolen from one of the cars on Harmon Lane.
The PCSO later received information that the suspects possibly lived on Saint Paul Drive and were using a white Nissan Altima to drive to and away from the crime scenes. The suspects were seen placing a white backpack in front of a car parked in a parking lot on Saint Paul Drive.
Deputies located the white backpack and found the stolen firearm from Timberline Road East. They then made contact with 17-year-old Deandre Parker and 16-year-old Christopher Lester, at which time Deandre (who lives on Saint Paul Drive) admitted that the bag was his, that he was aware of the stolen gun inside, and that he was told to hide it. Lester (who lives in Fort Meade) was shown the video from Harmon Lane, and admitted he was in the video, then identified the suspect wearing the Nike backpack as 14-year-old Caiden Cooper (who lives on Saint Paul Drive) and that they both were there breaking into cars, during which they stole the handgun, according to law enforcement.
Deputies responded to Cooper’s home, where they found the Nike backpack and the white slides worn by Cooper during the burglaries. He refused to speak with deputies. All of the teens’ parents, however, cooperated fully with the investigation.
“Teens out at night flipping car handles only means one thing – crimes of opportunity,” said Sheriff Grady Judd. “Please stop leaving your firearms in your vehicles, and please lock your car doors. We’re thrilled we got this stolen gun off the streets, and we appreciate everyone’s cooperation during this investigation.”
Cooper (who turned 14 on September 19th) was charged with: Armed burglary, Grand theft of a firearm, three counts vehicle burglary, three counts petit theft, three counts conspiracy to commit vehicle burglary, and VOP. Cooper is on probation for grand theft, burglary, and criminal mischief.
Lester was charged with: Armed burglary, Grand theft of a firearm, two counts vehicle burglary, two counts petit theft, and three counts conspiracy to commit vehicle burglary.
Parker was charged with: Grand theft of a firearm, and Tampering with evidence.
