Police chief warns: Car thieves are sometimes armed when they want to steal weapons

VIRGINIA BEACH, Virginia – Virginia Beach police seized two guns from three teenagers they arrested at the Oceanfront on Sunday.

Both weapons were returned as stolen, according to Police Chief Paul Neudigate on X.

Police arrested the 16-year-old and two 17-year-olds while responding to a report of suspects breaking into cars on 27th Street.

The arrests came just days after Chief Neudigate warned of this exact scenario in an exclusive interview with 13News Now.

“We have armed youths walking around checking cars to steal more weapons,” said Police Chief Neudigate. “And I want the public to be very careful because if someone tampers with your car, you could go and intervene immediately. There’s a good chance they’re armed. We have video of them breaking into cars with guns in their hands.”

Instead, the chief said people should stay indoors, call 911 and be good witnesses.

In April, a Virginia Beach homeowner shot and killed a 20-year-old man who allegedly broke into a car on Match Point Drive.

Investigators determined that the suspect fired at least two shots at the homeowner, who then returned fire.

This manslaughter was later found to be justified.

The Virginia Beach District Attorney’s Office concluded that the homeowner acted in self-defense after the suspect fired the first shots.

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