RUMFORD – Police who were responding to car break-ins last week surprised and arrested a teenager.

The 17-year-old Peru youth is facing eight charges of motor vehicle burglary and one charge each of refusal to submit to arrest and assault on an officer, Patrolman James Bernard said. He was turned over to his parents and is to be arraigned Oct. 5 in Rumford District Court.

The incident began at 2:20 p.m. Aug. 28 when a Strathglass Park resident reported seeing two people going through vehicles on Urquhart Street. Bernard said he and Officer Mark Cayer entered the park on foot and watched the youth enter an unlocked vehicle.

When they surprised him, ordering him out, the youth bolted, Bernard said. A foot chase ensued. The lengthy run through a neighborhood of old brick houses ended several blocks away on Waldo Street when the officers overtook the youth.

All but one of the burglarized cars parked on Urquhart and Knox streets were unlocked, police said. Most of the stolen items, which were valued at $500, were recovered, they added.