A teenage suspect is behind bars after deputies say he carried out a series of burglaries and thefts across several Martin County communities.

Crimes Committed

According to the Martin County Sheriff’s Office, the crimes happened over several weeks in neighborhoods including Rocky Point, New Monrovia and Emerald Lakes. Residents had reported a number of break-ins and vehicle thefts during that time.

Investigators say the 15-year-old from Stuart, mainly targeted Kia vehicles, damaging steering columns while trying to steal them and leaving behind thousands of dollars in damage.

Deputies were able to arrest the teen after responding to a report of a suspicious person. Authorities say the suspect ran from deputies, leading to a short foot chase before he was caught.

Detectives later linked him to multiple crimes using surveillance video and evidence collected during the investigation.

The teen faces several charges, including grand theft auto and burglary. He was taken into custody and turned over to the Department of Juvenile Justice.

Original reporting: WPBF (Treasure Coast / Hearst) — read the source article.