Tamaqua Police have cited and charged juveniles in a slew of recent incidents involving vehicles.
Both cases involved 14 and 15-year-old males whose identities have not been disclosed.
The first incident occurred on March 8 around 6 p.m. when police were called to a possible reported theft-related incident at a Lehigh Anthracite property in Tamaqua Borough.
Obtained security footage shows a pair of juveniles attempting to take an unused 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee from the property, which they did unsuccessfully. The vehicle was found by security personnel near a gated entrance with a jump starter inside.
After an investigation, the pair was cited for trespassing on the property without permittance.
Tamaqua Police say they filed summary citations at the request of Lehigh Anthracite representatives.
The second incident occurred over Easter weekend and involved a series of burglaries, vehicle thefts and criminal mischief incidents.
Police were first called on April 5 around 10:06 a.m. for a criminal mischief report at 18 W. Spring St. There, police found a 2009 Yamaha R6 motorcycle that had its ignition wires cut, gas tank tampered with, and ignition broken, despite being locked inside the building.
The following day, on April 6, the owner of that same property reported forced entries into multiple storage units, evidenced by several cut locks. Police found three off-road Jeeps with slashed tires, cut ignition wires and damaged windshields.
Finally, that same property reported a stolen 2003 Honda Minivan, which was later found abandoned and stuck in mud on a private mine road off Foster Avenue in Coaldale. Downtown surveillance footage suggests the theft occurred sometime around midnight.
Investigations after the fact concluded that the crimes resulted in an estimated total loss of $11,327.38 in property damage. Police charged the juveniles with counts of Burglary, Criminal Trespass, Theft of a Motor Vehicle, Receiving Stolen Property and Criminal Mischief.