Summer activities help keep young people out of trouble, police say

Police programs aim to keep students out of trouble

MIAMI – Hollywood detectives have arrested at least eight people recently in connection to a rash of home and vehicle burglaries, and any of those involved in the burglaries are students. 

And they're not alone.

Young people tend to get involved in different types of crimes throughout the year, but as summer break draws near teens move around a little more. 

"The kids that are not involved in some kind of summer activity - they have nothing to do," Lt. Freddie Cruz of Miami police said.

Officials said that during the summer months certain areas see an increase in burglaries that take place during the day.  

Cruz said parents should be aware of this trend and not only to protect your property during the summer but to keep an eye on their  teens, who they hang out with and what they're doing. 

"Even staying at home they can go online and do something they shouldn't or they can get on the phone and maybe talk to somebody they shouldn't be talking to," he said.  

In order to keep students busy during the summer there are several options including the Summer Youth Employment Program, Browad Sheriff’s Office Law Enforcement Explorers , Miami-Dade County Police Department’s Police Explorer Program and Miami Police Department’s PAL Programs.


About the Author:

Andrew Perez is a South Florida native who joined the Local 10 News team in May 2014.