Three juveniles, ages 12, 13 and 14, were arrested early Saturday in LaPlace after deputies say they ripped through town burglarizing six vehicles in one late-night run. A caller phoned in a tip about three people walking in the street in dark clothing and ski masks, and deputies say the teens bolted when they rolled up. Several reported stolen items were recovered, and at one point, investigators say, one of the suspects tried to squeeze under a parked car before being pulled out and cuffed.
According to a press release from the St. John Parish Sheriff's Office, deputies first spotted the trio in the 1600 block of Jefferson Street. A short foot chase carried over to Grant Drive, where all three were taken into custody shortly before 3 a.m. Saturday. Deputies say the teens tried to outrun officers and that one briefly hid under a vehicle before being arrested.
"The juveniles were released into the custody of their parents," the sheriff's office said in a post on Facebook. The same update notes that two of the three suspects later confessed to detectives and that several reported stolen items were found on them. The sheriff's office added that the burglarized vehicles were scattered across four different streets and that investigators are still sorting through recovered property and running down leads.
Where Deputies Say The Break-Ins Hit
According to the sheriff's account, three of the targeted vehicles turned up on Richmond Drive. Others were found on Delta Road, Sunnyside Drive and Grant Drive. The release says the burglaries appear to have hit several LaPlace neighborhoods during the same early-morning window.
Prior Run-Ins And Local Backdrop
The sheriff's post notes that the 14-year-old suspect was previously arrested in April in connection with a series of car burglaries, an attempted vehicle theft in Reserve and illegal possession of a handgun by a juvenile. LaPlace has seen a steady stream of crime updates from the sheriff's office this year, and earlier reporting, including Hoodline's LaPlace Street Heist, shows deputies often credit quick patrol work and timely tips from residents for recent arrests.
What Residents Can Do
Anyone with information about the latest string of burglaries is asked to call the St. John Parish Sheriff's Office tip line at (985) 652-9513 or submit a tip through the agency's online system. For the full release and any updates, see the department's post on the St. John Parish Sheriff's Office site.
