BEND, Ore. -- Police are still processing items they believe three teenage boys stole when they entered dozens of vehicles in southeast Bend in late February. The three boys, two 15-year-olds and a 16-year-old, were arrested between Friday and Monday after one suspect was reported to have been in possession of a firearm stolen from one of the vehicles.

Bend Police Sgt. Brian Kindel said the gun was stolen in the early morning hours of February 28 from a vehicle parked in the targeted area of southeast Bend which included SE Westview Drive south to Ferguson Road, and east of SE 15th Street.

“The suspects were walking the area during the time of the thefts and attempted almost every vehicle in their path for an unsecured door and the opportunity to steal property from within the vehicles,” Kindel said. Although 46 vehicles were entered, the boys did not take items from all of them, he added.

Two of the boys were cited and released, and one was lodged at the Deschutes County Juvenile Detention center. All three suspects were charged with 21 crimes including ten counts each of unlawful entry into a motor vehicle and conspiracy to commit theft, and a single count of first-degree theft (for the firearm).

The third arrest on Monday marked the completion of the investigation and what police believe to be the final arrest.

Lt. Ben Gregory said that some of the stolen items were “disposed of”, and therefore not all of the property has been recovered. “Detectives are still processing the stolen items and will be contacting victims as the stolen items are processed,” he added.

Anyone who may have been a victim of a theft from a vehicle who has not reported the crime is asked to call Deschutes County Dispatch at 541-693-6911.

Sgt. Kindel reminded residents to remove valuables from their vehicles and to lock them. “Leaving a vehicle unsecured creates an opportunity for a suspect to obtain your personal property and/or your identification.  Leaving valuable property in view creates a temptation for a suspect to shatter a window and easily remove your personal property as well.”