Four DC teens face multiple charges following a series of break-ins in Arlington, targeting a range of businesses from restaurants to medical offices.
ARLINGTON, Va. — Police say four teenagers were arrested after a series of break-ins at multiple businesses in Pentagon City early Tuesday morning.
Arlington County police responded to a scene in the 1200 block of S. Hayes Street around 1:20 a.m. on Dec. 30.
Surveillance footage shows four teenagers breaking into Epic Smokehouse along S. Fern Street in Arlington around 12:45 a.m. Loud crashing can be heard as they pulled out the register and carried it to the door.
“It feel heavy. it feel heavy like there’s money inside,” one of the teens can be heard saying on the video.
The manager of Epic Smokehouse said the register was smashed.
“They pulled this box apart and they just smashed it open just for the draw to come out and they stole $200 in cash,” she told WUSA9.
After looking around, the teens were seen counting the cash before leaving. Around the corner at Chevys Fresh Mex, one of the doors was boarded up Tuesday night. The manager explained that the teens didn’t appear to be in a rush.
“Not as quick as I would think you’d want to be for a thief, you know. I think you’d want to get in and out a little bit faster than that. So that’s how I knew they were a little bit younger,” said Kris Clements, the general manager at Chevys Fresh Mex.
Clements said the break-in happened around 12:30 a.m.
“I had four what looked like teenagers break in through the glass there on the door, and then they all just came in one by one, went into our bar area, and proceeded to take out our bar drawer, but we fortunately we lock everything up at night, so they were unable to get anything, didn’t cause much damage aside from breaking the window and that, and thankfully nobody was hurt,” said Clements.
The teens also broke into Bubbles Salon next door, a retail store on S. Fern Street and a medical office on S. Hayes Street, where police say some electronics were stolen.
“I just hope they get their life straightened up. It’s not a way that you want to start out your life living, you know, I mean, you’re young, you got your whole future ahead of you. This is not it,” Clements said.
Police said the four teens, three boys and a girl, were arrested not far from the area while allegedly trespassing inside a building on S. Eads Street.
Each is facing multiple charges, including burglary.
One of the suspects, who police say had the stolen electronics on them, will also face grand larceny charges.
According to police, they’re still investigating the string of incidents. If you have any information that might contribute to their efforts, call (703) 228-4180 or leave a tip at ACPDTipline@arlingtonva.us.