Salt Lake City
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Published on January 12, 2025
Break in Salt Lake City Vehicle Theft Spree: Two Minors Arrested by SLCPDSource: Salt Lake City Police Department

On a quiet winter day, the Salt Lake City Police Department made a significant break in a string of car thefts that had been troubling the city. Two suspects, both minors, were arrested in connection to a spree of Kia and Hyundai vehicle thefts, specifically in the Rose Park neighborhood and additional areas throughout Salt Lake City.

According to SLCPD, the arrests followed a sharp spike in such incidents detected by the department's Crime Intel and Analysis Unit starting in early December. Nearly 50 thefts and attempted thefts have been documented by the SLCPD's CIAU up to January 10.

These crimes seemed to follow a nocturnal pattern, with most incidents taking place in the wee hours, between 4 and 7 a.m. Suspects have resorted to forcibly entering vehicles by smashing windows, damaging steering columns and ignitions, or utilizing key fobs left inside by the owners. "This case highlights the dedication and hard work of our entire police department," Salt Lake City Police Chief Mike Brown said, as per SLCPD. "When people in our community cause harm and put others at risk, we will use every resource available to arrest them."

On the day of the arrests, patrol officers, including various specialized units from the SLCPD, were canvassing the 1700 West 400 North area, a targeted hot zone for these crimes. An officer spotted a silver Hyundai, confirmed as stolen but lost sight of it. Shortly after, a hit-and-run was reported in the vicinity. The suspects were apprehended nearby, matching the description given by locals. Officers found evidence linking them to the stolen vehicle, which had crashed, causing non-lethal injuries to the suspects.

The two young suspects have been booked into the Salt Lake County Juvenile Detention Center. Determining the exact number of cases attributable to them remains an ongoing effort between detectives and prosecutors. The SLCPD has stressed that all charged persons are presumptive innocents until convictions prove otherwise. The department has made available photos related to the case, requesting the media attribute credit to the SLCPD when utilized.