Stafford, VA. Deputies with the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office apprehended two suspects in the early hours of Sunday morning for breaking into at least 10 vehicles in a Stafford neighborhood.

On March 25, 2018 at approximately 2:11 a.m., Sgt. Christopher Smith responded to a call regarding three suspicious males walking down the street peering into vehicles. The caller had last seen the suspicious individuals walking on Whitson Ridge Drive toward Hampton Park Road.

Upon arrival, Sgt. Smith parked his vehicle and began walking toward the intersection of Whitson Ridge and Jonquil Place where he observed three males walking down the street. He concealed himself behind a vehicle parked on the street. When the males approached his location, Sgt. Smith announced his presence and pointed a flashlight toward the group. In response, all three men fled the scene.

Sgt. Smith gave chase and commanded the suspects to stop, but they did not obey his commands. In the area of Hawthorne Court, one of the males broke off left and the sergeant continued to chase the other two suspects. One of the males tripped and Sgt. Smith was able to take him into custody. Approximately 20 yards away, the second suspect, a juvenile, was apprehended by Deputy J.A. Mangan. The third suspect has not been located.

At the time of arrest, the first suspect, later identified as Michael Hamlet, 26, of Triangle, was wearing a glove and a screwdriver was sticking out of his pocket. Hamlet admitted to breaking into about 10 to 15 vehicles that evening. Deputies also discovered a schedule IV drug on Hamlet during a search of his person subsequent to arrest.

Deputies canvased the area and located about 10 victim vehicles with signs of tampering including open glove boxes and center consoles, dome lights on, and cracked doors. All of the victims spoken to by deputies on scene said nothing was missing from their vehicles, but they did see signs the vehicles had been rummaged through.

Later, the Sheriff’s Office received two reports from that neighborhood in reference to larcenies from vehicles. The victims reported missing wallets containing credit cards and a missing phone valued at approximately $400.

Deputies contacted Juvenile Intake regarding the juvenile suspect. Hamlet was incarcerated at Rappahannock Regional Jail on charges of vehicle tampering, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, possession of a schedule IV drug, possession of burglary tools, conspiracy to trespass, conspiracy to commit credit card theft, conspiracy to commit grand larceny, and conspiracy to commit larceny.