By Bianca Sausa
   The Times Herald-Record
   bsausa@th-record.com
   
Blooming Grove – A Blooming Grove teen was charged
yesterday with breaking into several Mountain Lodge
homes and cars and tearing up area street signs,
Blooming Grove police said. Officer Ron Moraski said the
16-year-old, whose name was not released because he
is eligible for youthful offender status, had broken into
several summer residences since July. The teen is also
accused of breaking into numerous cars to take pocketbooks.
Moraski said the teen took minor "juvenile" things such
as liquor and matchbooks from the Mountain Lodge homes.
The crime spree allegedly began in July and ended in
September with 21 torn-out street signs. Police believe
the teen is responsible for ripping the signs out of the
ground by shaking them loose. Moraski said most of the
signs were found thrown in the grass, about 50 feet from
where they were uprooted.  Moraski said the teen told police
he didn't know why he broke into the homes and cars.
He was charged with three counts of fourth-degree
grand larceny and three counts of second-degree burglary,
felonies. He was also charged with two counts of
fourth-degree criminal mischief, three counts of petty larceny,
and 21 counts of third-degree criminal tampering, misdemeanors.
The teen was arraigned and released to the probation unit.
The investigation is continuing.