Teen Steals Police Radio, Leads to Being Caught for Other Crimes

A 15-year-old boy was taken into custody by the on Dec. 28 for illegally entering vehicles. The teen was caught after he used a stolen police radio several times to transmit over the police radio system, reporting false information.

According to Sheriff Phil Miller, the teen had broken into the civilian vehicle of a Douglas County deputy and stolen a portable police radio. A report from the sheriff's office said he then began transmitting different numbers and codes to the dispatch center and deputies, as well as requesting back up.

The report said he later told investigators that he was responsible for several incidents of entering autos and thefts of personal property including GPS units in Douglas County.

Once the Sheriff's department found out that these false reports were being made, the sheriff said the department went into action by contacting FCC officials in Atlanta who then brought tracking devices to the area.

"We got the FCC out here to narrow down what neighborhood the radio calls were coming from," Miller said. "Deputies then knocked on doors in the area and talked to residents. As a result, we identified the bad guy and got the radio."

Miller said the suspect was located in the Central Church and Highway 5 area.

"We encourage car owners to not allow electronics to to be easily seen through their car windows," he said. "It's much more likely then, they will be a target."

Miller said the teen will appear in and will likely have a close eye kept on him in the future.