Ada Twp. (WZZM) - Three teens were arraigned this afternoon in connection with a series of home invasions we told you about first on WZZM 13 News.
The teens are members of the Ottawa Hills High School football teams. Ray Freeman and Kendrae Mayberry are on the varsity team. The other suspect is on the JV team.
Police say they were caught after two vigilant neighbors alerted police about suspicious activity in their neighborhood.
The teenagers are suspected of breaking into several homes in Kentwood, East Grand Rapids, Cascade Township and Ada Township. There were five break-ins Wednesday and four more Thursday morning.
The teens were caught as they attempted to run away from a home they were breaking into along Village Springs Drive in Ada Township.
It all started when one of the teens knocked on the door of a home on West Village Trail. When someone answered, he asked the homeowner for directions, and then left. The homeowner thought that was suspicious, so she called the Kent County Sheriff's Department to come out and investigate.
Lt. Kevin Kelley says, "After we were in the area to locate the suspicious behavior, we got another call. And he said that he saw a white van backed into the driveway of his neighbor's house and he was familiar with that neighbor and knew it was suspicious and didn't belong there."
When the sheriff's department got to the house, four teens started running away. Three of them were caught. A fourth suspect got away, but police know the person is and are confident he will soon be taken into custody.
As for the break-ins, the sheriff's department says the method they used to stake out the homes, by knocking on the door and asking questions, is quite common. They say in this case, those vigilant neighbors helped put an end to the string of break-ins.
John Helmholdt with Grand Rapids Public Schools says the teens are currently suspended from the team. He says one of the players was up for a scholarship and has good grades.
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