PALMYRA, N.Y. — In a new move for Palmyra, police have charged the grandparents of two teenagers who they say are wracking havoc on the town with repeated crimes. Now, the grandmother of one teen is speaking out, and police are explaining why they are taking this approach.

According to Palmyra Police Chief Kyle Dinardo, this was done to prevent the teens from continuing their criminal spree, which now includes charges of criminal mischief, and criminal trespass, amongst others. “Unfortunately, I charged two grandparents and charged them with endangering,” Dinardo stated, signaling a new approach to tackling the issue.

The teenagers, aged 14 and 13, are reportedly behind nearly 30 incidents, escalating from minor violations to serious crimes, causing damages nearing $10,000. This includes destruction of property, breaking into buildings, and defacing the canal trail with offensive graffiti.

Janet Heaven, the grandmother of the 13-year-old, expressed her dismay and confusion at being arrested for her grandchild’s alleged actions. Despite acknowledging her grandchild’s run-ins with the law, she feels it’s unfair to arrest grandparents. “I can’t watch them 24/7. Why am I getting arrested; I wasn’t there. Why? I don’t understand that,” Heaven said. After recently suffering a stroke and then being arrested, Heaven’s situation shows the challenges caretakers face.

Speaking of her grandchild, Heaven said, “This is the first time she was actually arrested so I don’t understand — yes, she had three felonies and one misdemeanor but she went to probation if she does probation good, which she will.”

Chief Dinardo reveals the difficulty of the decision, emphasizing that it was not made lightly but as a necessary action after witnessing the escalating severity of crimes committed by the young people. “Unfortunately we’ve gotten to the point where we had to arrest their parents, their legal guardians, their grandparents,” he said.

The police hope this intervention will serve as a deterrent and help break the cycle of repeated offenses.

“In the last year they’ve been involved in 30 incidents between the two of them,” Dinardo said.

Marsha Augustin: “How was it for you arresting these grandparents?”

Chief Kyle Dinardo: “It was difficult.”

Police say that these teens represent a significant portion of local youth crime, with a handful of teens, including the 14- and 13-year-olds, being involved in 60% of the cases.

Officer Robert Lewis expressed a shared frustration among law enforcement working to address the situation, explaining he deals with the same teens every day he is on the job and tries to mentor them. Often to no avail: He says they repeat the crimes and have become disrespectful towards him and fellow officers.

“Law enforcement as a whole is fed up; there’s not much more we can do,” Lewis said.

News10NBC contacted Wanda Milner, the great-grandmother of the 14-year-old who was also arrested but haven’t heard back.

Heaven added she has put some stricter rules in place for her grandchild and is working on getting her into counseling. She says she is not giving up on her.

A.I. assisted with the formatting of this story. Click here to see how WHEC News 10 uses A.I.