On Wednesday, Durham police announced more than 150 charges against two teens connected to a string of break-ins from December 10 to December 20.
Corp. M.D. Henderson of the DPD Property Crimes Unit says the teens are between 12 and 16-years-old. Officers believe they're responsible for 33 vehicle break-ins and four stolen vehicles.
"We're seeing them jumping out quickly in a sporadic location, just hitting these vehicles and they are getting firearms out of them," he said.
Investigators say the incidents happened across more than a dozen locations across the Bull City, including on two blocks of Carroll Street.
Jerry Cohn says he lives on a quiet street, but says he and his neighbors have heard about what's been happening.
"There has been something on the neighborhood listserv that there have been break-ins going on in the neighborhood," he said. "I know I saw one of the neighbors on the street here fixing a broken window just a week or two ago."
Henderson says the teens are using the weapons in other crimes as well.
He says gun owners need to take extra steps to secure their weapons as Durham police look for the other teens involved.
"Your firearm is not meant to be stored in your vehicle," he said. "I don't care if you have a safe in your vehicle, because if you have a safe, they can turn around and steal your vehicle."
Henderson is also warning people not approach the teens if they see them because he says there's a strong possibility they could be armed.
Investigators believe there could be other victims who have had their vehicles broken into, and urge them to contact Durham Police's CrimeStoppers at (919) 683-1200 or online. You can remain anonymous.