Three juveniles have been charged with trying to steal a car at an apartment complex on the afternoon of July 31, Harrison Township police said.
Officers were called at about 2:30 p.m. to the Mullica West Apartment Complex on Woodstown Road in Mullica Hill, where the victim reported that the window of her 2013 Kia Soul had been smashed and that she saw one suspect entering the vehicle while the other two remained outside.
Damage to the steering column indicated that the juveniles were attempting to mimic a vehicle theft demonstrated on the Tik Tok social media site. The victim activated her car’s alarm and the juveniles fled into the adjacent Estates of Devonshire Development neighborhood.
The suspects – two Mullica Hill residents, 12 and 14, and a 14-year-old from Gibbstown – were arrested after police briefly chased them on foot. They were charged with attempted burglary, criminal mischief, resisting and obstruction and released pending court appearances.
The incident was investigated by Mullica Hill Sgt. Chris Cartella, Cpl. Ryan Golden, officer Anel Kalabic and investigator Mark Dillon, with help from the Mantua Township police.