Bluffton teen charged in 15 vehicle break-ins

A Bluffton teen was charged with breaking and entering and first-degree burglary Wednesday after he allegedly targeted 15 cars in the Mill Creek neighborhood earlier this week, according to a spokeswoman for the Bluffton Police Department.

Ray Altacho, 17, was charged with 14 counts of breaking and entering a vehicle and one count of first-degree burglary after he allegedly broke into the vehicles between Monday night and Tuesday morning, Capt. Angela McCall-Tanner said.

Altacho was charged with the burglary offense for entering a garage in the neighborhood to break into the car parked inside, McCall-Tanner said.

Many of the stolen items were found at Altacho's home and returned to their owners, McCall-Tanner said.

An investigation into the thefts continues, to determine whether Altacho had accomplices, and more arrests are possible, McCall-Tanner said.

Altacho is being held for prosecution at the Beaufort County Detention Center, with bond set at $60,000, according to the jail log.

This story was originally published July 10, 2013 at 8:45 PM with the headline "Bluffton teen charged in 15 vehicle break-ins."