San Bruno's streets see a surge in car thefts by teenagers has left residents on edge. Tensions escalated last night when a 14-year-old boy in a stolen vehicle fled from the South San Francisco Police at high speed, before being found hiding in a Pacifica backyard, according to a tweet from KTVU's Henry K. Lee. This incident occurred less than a week after another group of teens were arrested for stealing a car in San Mateo, fueling concerns that the situation is becoming a pattern.

 

14yo boy in stolen car takes off from @SSFPolice at high speed & runs off in Pacifica before being spotted by @SanBrunoPolice hiding in a backyard pic.twitter.com/jOcPy33jT5

— Henry K. Lee (@henrykleeKTVU) July 1, 2023

 

On June 23, three teenagers—a 13-year-old male from Daly City, a 14-year-old male from Colma, and a 13-year-old female from South San Francisco—were apprehended after stealing and attempting to flee in a white Hyundai overnight in San Mateo, as reported in a KRON4 article. The San Bruno Police Department, with the assistance of the San Mateo Police Department, successfully deployed spike strips, immobilizing the vehicle. The young suspects fled on foot but were eventually caught and taken into custody.

These alarming incidents highlight a growing problem in the city of San Bruno, where car thefts by teenagers seem to be transforming into a worrisome pattern that could have potentially serious consequences for both the young perpetrators and the unsuspecting residents involved.