By SALINA POST
Two runaway juveniles are facing multiple charges after allegedly stealing from a Salina store, taking a backpack valued at more than $2,000, and later being connected to two smoke shop burglaries, according to Salina Police Captain James Feldman.
The investigation began around 2:20 p.m. on March 28, when officers were dispatched to Dollar General, 840 E. Crawford, regarding two male juveniles reportedly caught attempting to steal a Lunchable. Employees stopped the shoplifting attempt and had the juveniles leave the store.
As they exited, the pair allegedly stole a backpack left outside by an 18-year-old customer. The backpack contained a baseball glove, laptop, clothing, and a medical device. The total loss was estimated at over $2,000.
Officers searched the area and determined the juveniles matched the description of two males recently reported as runaways from a local group home. They were found in the 300 block of Center Street and taken into custody. While they did not have the backpack at the time, officers later located it behind a nearby business in the 800 block of E. Crawford. All items were recovered except for the medical device.
The 15 and 16-year-old juveniles were charged with felony theft and theft. According to Feldman, they were not booked into the Juvenile Detention Center in Junction City at that time.
At around 5 a.m. on March 31, officers responded to a burglary alarm at VIP Smoke Shop, 2018 S. 9th Street. The front door had been shattered with a rock, and more than $2,500 worth of merchandise, including vapes and other tobacco products, was reported stolen. Damage to the storefront was estimated at $2,000.
Later that morning, around 8:40 a.m., a School Resource Officer was contacted by school staff after a student was caught smoking in a restroom. When questioned, the student identified the same two juveniles as the source of the vape.
Through the investigation, officers connected the pair to the VIP Smoke Shop burglary, as well as an earlier break-in at Pack Rat Smoke Shop, 659 S. Broadway, on March 10. Items from the VIP burglary were recovered.
Following the March 31 incident, both juveniles were charged with two counts of burglary, one count of felony damage to property, one count of misdemeanor damage to property, and two counts of felony theft. They were then booked into the Juvenile Detention Center in Junction City.