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WEST CHESTER — Three local teens are being held on burglary charges after police said today, Nov. 21, they stole thousands of dollars worth of various items from three homes earlier this week.

Just before noon Thursday, Nov. 20, West Chester Police received a call from a resident who said she saw three people break into her neighbor's home near the 6700 block of Coachlight Way.

Upon police arrival, the three suspects fled on foot, and were eventually tracked back to an apartment at 6654 Highland Green Drive.

Police later found jewelry, flatware, a safe and electronics from the three residences — on Coachlight Way, Autumn Glen Drive and Lakota Springs Drive — at the Highlands Greens apartment, according to Sgt. Steve Oakes, of the West Chester Police Department. Total estimated value of the items stolen is between $5,000 and $8,000, Oakes said.

Antonio Heath, 19, of 6654 Highlands Greens Drive, Candice Anderson, 19, of 5202 West Wind Drive in Hamilton, and Ryan Thompson, 18, of 986 Kemper Meadow Drive in Cincinnati, were each charged with three counts of burglary, a second-degree felony, according to West Chester Police.

They remain in the Butler County Jail, and their preliminary hearings are scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 25, in Butler County Area III court.

If convicted, they face up to 24 years in prison, or eight years on each count.

Two of the three suspects had prior records, Oakes said. Anderson has been convicted of felony theft and Thompson has been convicted of aggravated robbery.

Oakes said daytime robberies are "very rare" in West Chester. He also said the incident appears to be a random act, and that the three are not believed to be connected with any other thefts in the area.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2112 or dgreber@coxohio.com.