MOORESVILLE — Three teens were charged Thursday in connection with a series of Mooresville break-ins.
According to an Iredell County Sheriff’s Office press release, 16-year-old Rudie Policz and two 15-year-olds were charged in connection with several vehicle break-ins and two residential burglaries.
The press release said the first offense occurred on July 7, when a resident near Prestwood Lane in the Bridgeport Community awoke to find two individuals in her residence who ran from the scene after stealing a cell phone and jewelry box containing more than $35,000 in jewelry.
Almost a week later, authorities responded to another burglary near Lake Shore Drive. Deputies found that jewelry and a laptop computer were stolen.
Iredell County Sheriff’s Office received several calls about vehicle breaking and entering cases on Aug. 1 occurring in the same areas off Langtree Road. Authorities reported that 14 vehicles had been entered and items including cell phones, GPS units, laptop computers and MP3 players had been taken.
According to the press release, detectives continued to work closely with community watch groups and individuals in the area where some had security video at their residences.
The release said detectives learned the suspects involved in the vehicle breaking and enterings were on foot in the area in the early morning hours and were wearing ski masks.
The report said authorities generated a lead involving two juveniles, one 15 years old and one 16 years old from a parent on Aug. 1.
Detectives interviewed the two juveniles who admitted to breaking into a residence on Gudger Road, according to the report, at the same time the vehicle breaking and entering occurred. Two laptop computers were also recovered, valued at $3,500, and further evidence was obtained. At this time, the juveniles denied any involvement in further incidents, the press release stated.
The juveniles were brought to the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office for an interview with their parents on Aug. 2. The report said detectives learned of their involvement in the July 7 burglary.
Detectives then seized property and further evidence from two residences. Detectives also learned that some property was disposed of in the waters of Lake Norman in the Royal Pointe neighborhood.
According to the release, one juvenile admitted that he was afraid of getting caught and had dropped some jewelry in the lake to dispose of it.
Sheriff’s detectives, with assistance from Jamie Barrier, Deputy Chief with Shepherd’s Fire Department, Tim Connley, a diver with Shepherd’s Fire Department, and Mark Missler, a diver with Lake Norman Scuba, responded to the location where investigators believed the jewelry had been thrown into the lake. After a couple hours of diving, Missler and Connley were able to find jewelry on the lake floor and retrieve it for detectives. Authorities found that this jewelry was connected to the residential burglaries on Lakeshore Drive and Prestwood Lane.
Detectives also learned of another suspect involved in the crimes. Upon further investigation, another laptop computer and more jewelry was located by authorities.
Policz was taken into custody and charged with 14 counts of breaking and entering a motor vehicle, 11 counts of misdemeanor larceny, two counts of felony larceny, three counts of breaking and enterings, two counts of first-degree burglary, five counts of felony larceny after breaking and entering and one count of larceny of a firearm.
The two 15-year-olds will be charged through juvenile services. Detectives are still investigating earlier cases in connection with these suspects. Total recovered property in these cases so far is more than $35,000.