3 Rochester teens arrested after stealing cars across Monroe County

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — Three Rochester teens were arrested Friday after stealing cars across Monroe County.

The Rochester Police Department says a 71-year-old Rochester man and Vietnam Army Veteran, was washing his car at his home on Lake Avenue when a group of teens pulled up to the man in a vehicle that was stolen from the night before from a county residence. One of the teens displayed a firearm and stole the man’s car at gunpoint. Both cars fled the scene and thankfully the man was not hurt.

A short time later, an RPD officer spotted both cars in the area of Bay Street in Rochester. The officer was able to locate and arrest the suspect who was in possession of the carjacked car on Vermont Street.

Police say the suspect possessed the man’s property and the keys to the vehicle.

Moments later, an RPD officer saw the stolen vehicle that was taken from a home in the county. Three teens alighted from the vehicle after abandoning it on Bowman Street. After brief foot chases, two of the suspects were taken into custody.

Police charged a 15-year-old boy and city resident with robbery in the first degree and grand larceny in the fourth degree. A second 16-year-old boy and city resident was also charged with Robbery in the first degree and Grand Larceny in the fourth degree. These charges were related to the armed carjacking on Lake Avenue on Friday.

Investigators also charged a 14-year-old boy and city resident with criminal possession of stolen property in the fourth degree relating to a car that was stolen from the county. The boy was also charged with grand larceny in the third degree by Brighton Police relating to another stolen vehicle investigation in the Town of Brighton.

All three were remanded to secure detention centers and the stolen cars were returned to their owners.