A Leesburg teenager was arrested for allegedly for allegedly grabbing several religious-themed gold chains valued at $8,000 off a man’s neck while passing him on Picciola Road.
The 17-year-old was charged with robbery by sudden snatching after the incident, which happened shortly after 2 p.m. Sunday. The victim told a Leesburg police officer he was walking on Picciola Road when he saw two males coming toward him. He said he tried to walk between the two males when one reached out and struck him in the neck/chest area and ripped his necklaces off him, according to the police report.
The victim said after he was struck and had his necklaces taken, the two men ran into the neighborhood with them. The victim said he tried to chase them but couldn’t keep up, so he called 911, the report said.
The victim said the first necklace was a gold chain with a medallion in the shape of a small house containing the Virgin Mary. He described the second necklace as a gold chain with a medallion in the shape of Jesus Christ on a cross, with an outline of gold around it. The third item was described as a circular medallion with Jesus Christ’s face on it. The victim estimated the value of the three chains at $8,000, according to the report.
The victim said only one teen hit him, and the other male was not involved other than running away at the scene. Due to the victim being grammatically challenged, the officer allowed him to narrate a statement while the officer filled out the sworn affidavit for him, the report said
While filling out the affidavit, the officer saw multiple people leaving a nearby house on Sterns Street. The victim identified one of the people leaving the house as the person who accompanied the other teen during the incident. While the officer was detaining that person, the teen who snatched the gold chains came out of the residence. He was detained as well, the report said.
The 17-year-old was placed under arrest and taken to the Lake County Jail. No bond or court information was available.
