Parents and Police Team to Thwart Thieves

Parents who exited Saturday's Big Blue football game at Blocksidge Field early intercepted two thieves at work in the back parking lot and alerted police.

Police took one of the juveniles into custody near the scene and chased down the other one at the nearby beach, said Swampscott Police Det. Rose Cheever.

The juveniles, 14 and 15 years old, from Lynn, entered an unlocked car in the corner of the lot near the beach path and stole items including a purse, the detective said.

Stolen belongings were scattered over the ground.

The Swampscott parents who had left the game in the fourth quarter and were walking to the beach path saw what the youth were up to and told them to stay right where they were, the detective said. 

The parents alerted police, who were working details at the game.

One of the juveniles bolted to the beach and one stayed in the parking lot, police said.

All the belongings were recovered. Among the items stolen from the purse was a cell phone.

Police used the cell phone to call the victims and alert them to what had happened, the detective said.

Police brought the juveniles to the police station. The parents of one of the juveniles were at the nearby beach. They had brought the teens there for a day at the beach.

Police notified those parents and the parents of the other juvenile, telling the parents what the teens had done.

Timing and teamwork merged to thwart what might have been a difficult case to solve.

Police urge people to lock their cars and not leave valuables in them.