Two teens arrested on entering auto charges

LEESBURG, Ga. — An 18-year-old and a 17-year-old were booked into the Lee County Jail after their involvement in multiple entering auto incidents.

Lee County Chief Deputy Lewis Harris said that a call came in from a concerned neighbor at 11:30 p.m. Sunday on Willow Lake Drive in Leesburg regarding what appeared to be two people going into vehicles and stealing items.

“A gentleman called us (in reference to the entering autos),” Harris said. “A deputy on site got out on foot while another deputy followed him in his vehicle with his lights off.

“They were caught red-handed.”

The two arrested were Austin Bentley, 18, and Clifford Vansant, 17. When deputies caught up to them shortly after midnight on Monday, one of them had their hand in a purse they found in the vehicle they were entering at the time.

In all, there was $600 worth of items stolen, all of which was recovered. The vehicles that the pair hit were unlocked, Harris said.

Harris also said that Bentley and Vansant, each charged with three counts of entering auto, admitted to going into the vehicles.

The pair were found with masks, gloves and hoodies on. At least one of the two lives in the neighborhood they were victimizing, Harris said.