'Kiddie Cartel' suspected of vandalism-theft

ATLANTA — A group of elementary school children arrested for vandalizing expensive military vehicles at a Georgia National Guard warehouse, is also suspected of breaking through a backyard fence and stealing property.

Rob Lenzo, who lives near Edie Avenue in southeast Atlanta, told Channel 2’s Tom Regan he spotted three children illegally entering his neighbor's yard Thursday.

He also took phone video of the trespass.

"As I'm recording, I see them break the fence panels, taking sports equipment from my neighbor’s yard. What you don't see is the patio furniture being stolen, them going into the crawl space," Lenzo told Regan.

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Lenzo said he believes the three children, ages 8 through 12, are the same ones arrested for damaging six military vehicles at the Georgia National Guard facility two week ago.

Authorities said the damage to vehicles could amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars. After the children were arrested, they were released.

"These kids need help. They have no respect for people's property. We definitely want to see them get some help, because somebody is going to get hurt, before something is completely done, and we don't want that," Lenzo said.

The father of two of the children is scheduled to make a court appearance on Thursday.

Atlanta police said they have not confirmed a link between the children allegedly involved in the property theft and those arrested in the vandalism case.

Cox Media Group