Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Suffolk Police are encouraging residents to take basic safety precautions after responding to three reports of stolen vehicles in one night.

The incidents happened Dec. 14 and occurred within about 30 minutes of each other, according to a city press release. They were all reported about 8 p.m., two from the 600 block of East Constance Road and one from the 1400 block of North Main Street, the press release stated.

One of the vehicles was later observed by uniform patrol in the 1000 block of Portsmouth Boulevard, and a traffic stop was initiated. The suspects fled the scene and crashed the vehicle prior to entering Route 58. The suspects fled that vehicle and got into another stolen vehicle to head onto Route 58. That vehicle was found parked on Route 58.

Two male subjects were located close to the vehicle and were detained. A 17-year-old male has been charged with three counts of grand larceny, one count of obtaining money by false pretense, and one count of conspiracy to commit larceny more than $500. Additional charges are pending, and the investigation remains ongoing.

In the two of the three thefts, vehicles were left running while the driver went inside a business, the press release stated. Suffolk Police are reminding the public to “Lock It, Don’t Lose It” when it comes to securing your vehicle and to take special precautions not to leave vehicles running and unattended, as it could welcome the opportunity for a crime to occur.