MARTIN COUNTY, Fla. — Three teenagers from St. Lucie County are facing multiple felony and misdemeanor charges after deputies say they attempted to break into as many as 200 cars during a single night crime spree on the Treasure Coast.
WATCH BELOW: 'They tried over 100 car doors,' Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek tells WPTV
The Martin County Sheriff's Office said the teens walked through neighborhoods pulling on car door handles, hoping to find unlocked vehicles. They targeted multiple communities including Cinnamon Tree, Avila and Portofino.
"They tried over 100 car doors, 150 to 200 car doors they tugged on," said Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek.
Deputies responded to reports of suspicious activity and were able to track the three teenage boys as they again attempted to burglarize vehicles.
All three were taken into custody and transported to Martin County Jail, where they face multiple felony charges, deputies said.
Guy Cannon, a resident of the Cinnamon Tree community for over a decade, said his car was among the vehicles targeted.
"My car was one of the vehicles they got in," said Cannon.
Cannon said nothing was stolen from his vehicle, but his sister wasn't as fortunate. The teens attempted to steal her car by shoving a screwdriver into the ignition.
"It might be like $1,700 worth of damage," said Cannon.
Budensiek said the teens were primarily looking for cash, wallets, backpacks, and purses. Surveillance cameras captured the teenagers rummaging through a car in the Avila community, and the other two neighborhoods targeted are less than two minutes away from there.
While the teens didn't make off with much, they did successfully steal one vehicle. Budensiek said it was fortunate no weapons were left in any of the targeted cars.
"Had guns been left in the cars, we would deal with them on the street," said Budensiek.
Joseph Vigliotti, 18, and a 16-year-old and a 17-year-old face 15 felony and misdemeanor charges. The sheriff said he would also like to hold their parents accountable.
"If we could arrest a parent in this, we would. It's the parents' responsibility to know where their children are at," said Budensiek.
The incident has prompted residents to change their habits. Cannon said neighbors are now making sure to lock their vehicles.
"Everyone's definitely locking their vehicles," said Cannon.
