KANSAS CITY, Kan. - A teenage boy and girl both face dozens of felony charges over a string of recent burglaries and thefts.
The suspects, one from Bonner Springs, the other from Edwardsville, are both 16 years old. The Wyandotte Co. district attorney's office believes they set fire to a handful of vehicles at the former Chad Franklin Suzuki, causing $150,000 in damages.
But prosecutors say it didn't stop there.
The teens also stand accused of stealing a total of more than $230,000 in cash and property from a group of business and homes between Kansas City, Kan., and Bonner Springs, Kan. The teens are also accused of stealing four vehicles.
Prosecutors allege the crime spree started Feb. 7 and ended Sept. 12.
"Oh, it's been extensive," said Tom Edmondson, owner of Custom Limousines.
Despite security cameras and posters offering reward money, his business is out $20,000 in electronics and car parts.
Edmondson was surprised to hear that two 16-year-olds face charges for burglarizing his business.
"That seems like a career criminal, someone 30 years old," he said.
At Miller Pharmacy in Bonner Springs, police say the teens took more than $30,000 in Oxycontin, along with $1,500 in other drugs.
Employees reached at the pharmacy Tuesday said its owners were not willing to comment about the arrests.
"I'm just relieved they found somebody; if they can get a conviction, even better," said Vicky Snyder, owner of Creative Landscaping and Concrete.
Snyder says her business got hit more than once.
"The first time they stole equipment, but in March they stole the truck. They did $60,000, [maybe] $70,000 in damage," she added.
Police say the teens also took a truck from a Bonner Springs home, took a truck from school district administrative offices, and broke into a lumber yard six different times.
"It's hard to believe," said business owner Tom Edmondson. "It makes you wonder what's going through people's minds. Kids that young, it just doesn't seem possible they could do that much."
The 16-year-old boy charged in connection with the crimes faces one count of arson, 16 counts of burglary, nine counts of felony theft, six counts of misdemeanor theft, three counts of felony criminal damage to property and 12 counts of misdemeanor criminal damage to property. He is scheduled to be in court Nov. 10.
The 16-year-old girl faces one count of arson, ten counts of burglary, eight counts of felony theft, seven counts of misdemeanor criminal damage to property, two counts of misdemeanor theft, and one count of felony criminal damage to property. She is scheduled to be in court Nov. 7.
NBC Action News is not naming the teens because authorities are handling their cases in juvenile court.
