It nearly took a degree in mathematics to tabulate for the number of perpetrators and solved burglaries and property damage cases announced by Chief Charles Long as he addressed Fairburn council members Dec. 12.

Joint efforts between investigators, patrol officers and citizens resulted in the arrest of 12 juveniles allegedly responsible for 18 cases of burglary and damage to property, Long said. Nearly all the cases, most with multiple participants, occurred since May, he told council members. Long added that two of the juveniles, a 14-year-old male and a 12-year-old female, were involved in many of the cases. The 14-year-old was charged in 16 incidents while the 12-year-old was charged in nine cases.

Many of the incidents involved damage to property. Addressing that issue, Long said the significance of the crimes was not diminished just because involved vandalism.

“A lot of it is vandalism, but if you are in your home when somebody throws a brick through a plate glass window you’re going to take that seriously,” he said.

Residences, businesses and churches fell victim to the actions of the young perpetrators. Sometimes, as in the case of a local restaurant, a brick was thrown through the rear glass door but nothing was taken. A 14-year-old and a 13-year-old were charged with criminal trespass in that incident, Long said.

In a July 23 residential burglary, two 14-year-olds and an 11-year-old were charged after the home was entered and a video player, video game, a television and a cordless phone were stolen. Charges were filed Dec. 2, said Long. In a July 31 incident, a 14-year-old was charged with burglary and two counts of carrying a concealed weapon and another 14-year-old was charged Dec. 1 with criminal trespass after the resident was able to identify the perpetrators.

Detectives charged five juveniles Dec. 1 in a single residential burglary that occurred August 6 when a storage shed was forced open and two motorcycles valued at $7,800 were stolen. Three 11-year-olds, a 13-year-old and a 16-year-old were charged, Long said. A 14-year-old and the 12-year-old female were charged Dec. 9 with criminal trespass after an Aug. 26 incident where they used rocks to allegedly break a window at a local bank.

Long provided council members with other examples taken from the long list of crimes by the 12 teenage perpetrators. Remanded to the custody of their parents, Long said he hoped justice in the cases would be served.

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