20-year-old male, juvenile female arrested following car break-in
Hoover Police have made two arrests following an early-morning car break-in at Greystone, according to a press release.
Police arrested Hoover resident Taylor Ray Kitchens, 20, and a 17-year-old juvenile female in connection to a car break-in off of Milner’s Crest on July 6, according to the release.
Around 2 a.m. that morning, a homeowner reported seeing a white female suspect breaking into their car in the driveway. The girl reportedly walked off after being spotted by the victim, met up with a white male accomplice and the pair left the area in a vehicle.
Hoover police officer Brian Hale said the victim provided good descriptions of the female suspect and the vehicle she left in, which helped responding officers.
After locating the suspect vehicle, the officers determined the individuals in the car were responsible for the break-in on Milner’s Crest, according to the release. Kitchens and the female juvenile were also reportedly in possession of two handguns, and one of those handguns had been reported stolen from Greystone on July 5. The serial number on one of the guns had reportedly been altered.
Both suspects were arrested and transported to Hoover City Jail, and the teenage girl was processed through the Shelby County juvenile system.
Kitchens was charged with unlawful breaking and entering, possession of an altered firearm and not having a license to carry. His bond was set at $10,500.
In the release, Hale reminded Hoover residents to lock and secure their vehicles by hiding items from view or taking them out of the car.
“The fact is even though the charge is called unlawful breaking and entering, in the vast majority of these cases … vehicles are being left unlocked. They’re [suspects are] not breaking anything,” Hale said.
Most suspects will simply walk around and lift door handles to see which cars are unlocked and then take items from those cars, he said. By locking vehicles and removing any belongings from the line of view, Hale said it removes an opportunity for criminals to victimize people.