Three boys stealing alcohol from area garages

What some kids call “garage hopping” the police call burglary in the first degree.

West Linn police caught three teenage boys going from house to house in the Conestoga Lane neighborhood and stealing from garages and parked vehicles.

On July 4 at about 1:30 a.m., a resident in the 2000 block of Conestoga Lane reported someone trying a door to the home. The homeowner called the police.

When officers came out to the neighborhood and spotted a car with an open window, they found one of the teens fully reclined in the driver’s seat trying to avoid detection.

Police soon found two other boys nearby.

The teens, ages 15, 16 and 17, were stealing beer and alcohol from garage refrigerators and money and valuables from unlocked cars, which teens call “jockey boxing.”

The teens were cited with first-degree burglary, third-degree theft, minor in possession of alcohol and unauthorized entry to a vehicle. They were released to their parents and will be referred to the juvenile system.

West Linn police Sgt. Neil Hennelly warned residents to keep their garages closed and locked and vehicles locked and void of any valuables. He also said that, if residents see anything suspicious in their neighborhood, they should call police right away.

“If you call right away, these are the results you get,” Hennelly said.

He also stressed how dangerous garage hopping can be.

“What if the door you tried was somebody who had firearms ... or a big dog,” Hennelly said.

On top of the risks, the charges are quite serious.