Two suspects in vehicle break-ins turns selves in

By Bill Mckelway

Published: December 30, 2008

Three Henrico County teenagers who police say preyed on unlocked cars in subdivisions in Hanover County and Henrico have been arrested after a two-week search.

Police said yesterday that two of the suspects turned themselves in Sunday and are facing multiple charges of grand larceny in the two counties.

"It's like being able to walk into a store with the doors unlocked and nobody inside," Hanover sheriff's Lt. Mike Trice said yesterday of unsuspecting homeowners who lost items from their unlocked cars.

Police recovered a carload of stolen merchandise Dec. 10 when they were alerted to a suspicious vehicle in a subdivision off Bell Creek Road near Interstate 295 and Pole Green Road.

But two of the car's occupants, who apparently had fallen asleep after asking for help with starting their car, fled into swamplands of Totopotomoy Creek, police said. A third suspect was arrested at the scene.

On Sunday, the two missing suspects, one of them a juvenile, turned themselves in to authorities.

Police identified the two adults as Dylan T. Rugar, 19, of the 4700 block of Radford Avenue near the Shops at Willow Lawn and Cameron H. Jackson, 19, of the 10300 block of Maremont Drive near Mills Godwin High School.

The identity of the juvenile was not released.

Trice said subdivisions east of U.S. 301 and north of Studley Road -- Quail Creek and Berkeley Forest, as well as the Bluffs at Bell Creek -- were singled out, as was Chickahominy Oaks off Atlee Station Road.

"Homeowners have to realize how easy it is for someone to walk down a quiet subdivision street late at night, open an unlocked car door and just take what's inside," he said.

In Henrico, Jackson faces multiple charges, including contributing to the delinquency of a minor, arson, burglary and grand larceny. Jackson was described as armed and dangerous in one police bulletin this month.

Rugar was arrested in October and again Dec. 10 on multiple Henrico charges, including 11 grand larceny charges, auto theft and destruction of property.
Contact Bill McKelway at (804) 649-6601 or .