FAIRFIELD -- A 16-year-old Bridgeport youth faces multiple burglary charges after he was spotted by police riding a bicycle on Stratfield Road early Tuesday, with a woman's purse slung over his shoulder.

There had been numerous reports about car break-ins in the neighborhood, police said.

The teen, who was stopped about 2 a.m., told police that he had picked up the purse for a friend, although he said he didn't know his friend's last name, where she lived or her phone number.

Inside the purse was an iPod adapter, a small Coach purse, a radar detector, a cell phone and a Sirius satellite radio. The officer called one of the numbers on the phone and reached a relative of the phone's owner. They were put in touch with the owner, who said she was not aware her phone was missing, nor did she know the young man who had it. The cell phone, the purse, a wallet and numerous credit cards found in the teen's possession had been taken from the woman's car that was parked, unlocked, in her Jackman Avenue driveway, police said.

While in custody, the suspect allegedly told police he'd broken into several cars in the neighborhood and cited each location for police. He was also charged with breaking into two cars on Southwood Road and a car on Fairmont Terrace.

In all, the teen was charged with four counts of third-degree burglary, three counts of sixth-degree larceny and one count of criminal attempt to commit larceny.

He was held on a $400 bond and is scheduled to appear July 30 in Bridgeport Superior Court.

"Residents who leave their cars unlocked when they're in their driveways are inadvertently enabling this kind of crime," police spokesman Sgt. James Perez said. "The community must do their part and lock their doors and secure their property. I don't care what town you're in."