EAST BRUNSWICK – Four township juveniles were arrested last week after they broke into an abandoned pickup truck and stole a shotgun and shells, according to police.
The four male juveniles, two age 13, one who was 12 and the other 14, noticed the shotgun inside the vehicle as they were walking through private property off Cranbury Road around 2 p.m. April 14.
They used a rock to break out the window of the truck and removed the shotgun and shells.
One of the juveniles loaded a shell into the weapon and attempted to fire it. The weapon, however, did not fire since the juvenile had loaded it improperly. The boys then hid the weapon under another vehicle on the property.
Police were notified of the incident by an anonymous tip on April 17.
When officers contacted the parents of the juveniles, all parties cooperated and the weapon was located and secured by police.
The elderly female who owns the property told police that the truck and shotgun had belonged to her deceased husband, and that she was unaware the weapon was in the vehicle.
All four juveniles were charged with unlawful possession of a weapon, burglary, theft and criminal mischief.