ST. GEORGE – Officers arrested three teens for a string of vehicle burglaries after teens admitted to “car hopping.”

Officer Johnny Heppler said officers responded to 100 S and 1300 W on Jan. 17 just after midnight, and discovered an 18-year-old male and two male juveniles allegedly breaking into vehicles. One of the juveniles fled and was quickly apprehended, Heppler said.

Heppler said one of the males admitted they were car hopping – checking vehicles in the area for unlocked and unsecured doors. The teens had broken into five vehicles already looking for valuables and had “just gotten started for the evening.”

“This serves as an important reminder for citizens to lock their vehicles and secure their valuables. Most criminals are looking for the easiest way to get what they are after. We can deter most theft and burglary by simply locking our doors,” Heppler said.