Monroe County Sheriff Todd Baxter says he believes members of the community and deputies are at risk as a large number of vehicle thefts and reckless incidents continue taking place.

His message came with the announcement of four arrests linked to car thefts in Pittsford and Christmas larcenies at a Henrietta church. 

“I fear for the safety of our community and my deputies as this recklessness continues,” said Baxter. “I am proud of the tenacious law enforcement officers who put their own safety at risk in an effort to stop the senseless behaviors of others. I implore the families of these young people who are wreaking havoc in our streets, damaging property and creating financial and personal hell for the victims, to seek available help for your sons and daughters. The steadfast and passionate work of youth development organizations over the years is to be applauded, yet we continue to witness what seems like thousands of families destroyed and kids lost. Something must change. We must keep pressure on our legislators and work with them to improve laws.”

According to deputies, four teenagers are charged with several misdemeanors, including petit larceny and criminal mischief. They say the teens were arrested after leading deputies on a chase in a pair of vehicles stolen from the Gleason Circle apartment complex in Pittsford on Jan. 2. The suspects were taken into custody after one vehicle crashed on Rt. 441 near I-490 and the other crashed in the area of Kingsboro Road and Genesee Park Boulevard in Rochester, deputies say.

After interviewing all four suspects, deputies say they developed evidence that two of them had been involved in thefts at the Guardian Angels Church in Henrietta on Christmas. Deputies say the 16- and 17-year-old face felony grand larceny charges in connection with that alleged incident.