3 teen girls to be charged in armed burglary in Campbell

Staff report

CAMPBELL

A cellphone ping stopped a potential armed burglary spree by teenage girls from continuing.

Campbell police arrested three girls age 15-16 for armed burglary after they entered a residence on Whipple Avenue at 2 a.m. Friday with a 9 millimeter handgun and stole an iPhone and several pieces of jewelry.

The burglary was “planned, detailed and extracted,” and it was supposed to be the first of many burglaries the girls planned, according to Detective Sgt. John Rusnak. In fact, the girls told police they were willing to show the gun in order to get money, police said.

The girls were caught after a victim of the theft called police reporting her iPhone and jewelry stolen. In total, the items amounted to $750, according to police. The victim called police around 6 p.m. that day and said a cellphone ping led to the address on Sanderson Avenue where her phone was located.

When police arrived at the Sanderson house and asked the grandmother of one of the girls’ if they could search the house, all of the stolen items were found inside, according to police. Also found in the rafters was the handgun, 13 live rounds and two magazines. Police said the gun belonged to the deceased grandfather of one of the girls.

The girls confessed their plan to police later. Two of the girls will be charged with aggravated burglary with a weapon and one of the girls who lied to police during the investigation also will be charged with obstructing justice. Another girl will be charged with receiving stolen property and obstructing justice.

All the girls are now in the Mahoning County Juvenile Justice Center.