Teens charged with string of vehicle break-ins
Published 1:31 pm Thursday, July 7, 2016
By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor
ALABASTER – A pair of teenagers are facing multiple felony charges after police said they allegedly broke into several vehicles in an Alabaster apartment complex.
The Alabaster Police Department arrested 19-year-old Christopher David Smith, who lists an address on Old Boston Road in Alabaster, and 18-year-old Nieko Clyde Bonella, who lists an address on Wildflower Drive in Maylene, on July 4 and charged them with allegedly breaking into several vehicles.
Smith is facing four felony counts of unlawful breaking and entering a vehicle and two misdemeanor counts of fourth-degree theft of property. Bonella is facing four felony counts of unlawful breaking and entering a vehicle, one misdemeanor count of attempted breaking and entering a vehicle and two misdemeanor counts of fourth-degree theft of property.
According to their arrest warrants, Bonella and Smith allegedly broke into several vehicles in Alabaster’s Wellington Manor apartment complex at about 4 a.m. on Monday, July 4.
Their arrest warrants claim they broke into a 2010 Chevrolet Malibu, a 2000 Mitsubishi Gallant, a 2005 Chevrolet Express van and a 2001 Nissan Frontier, and stole a total of $14.13 in cash, chain hearts and a rabbit foot. Bonella also allegedly attempted to break into a 2004 GMC Canyon vehicle.
Unlawful breaking and entering a vehicle is a Class C felony, and is punishable by up to 10 years in prison upon conviction.
As of July 7, Bonella was being held in the Shelby County Jail on bonds totaling $23,000 and Smith was being held on bonds totaling $22,000.
Both suspects are set to appear in Shelby County Circuit Court on Aug. 11 at 8:30 a.m. for preliminary hearings.