In the early hours of this morning, a police chase ensued following a vehicle theft and subsequent smoke shop robbery in Clayton, ending in a crash at a Knightdale apartment complex. According to CBS 17, officials say that after responding to an alarm at Haven Smoke Shop on Clayton Boulevard, officers saw four individuals flee the scene and embark on a high-speed pursuit in a silver 2019 Kia Sorento, which was later confirmed to be stolen from Raleigh.
The chase, involving multiple law enforcement agencies, drawing to a close when the suspects collided with an unoccupied parked car at the Mingo Village apartment complex around 12:50 a.m. A juvenile was arrested after the crash, running away from the parked SUV, which was caught by a K-9 unit, reported the spokesperson from the Town of Clayton. The remaining three suspects—a description provided as 3 black males and 1 white female—are still at large.
As detailed by WRAL, the suspects initially targeted the Haven Smoke & Vape shop along U.S. Highway 70, shattering its front door before making off with bags filled with tobacco and vape products. Clayton Police Department quickly engaged in the pursuit, which was taken over by the North Carolina State Highway Patrol as it entered Wake County. The stolen vehicle was laden with the said products when it was left abandoned and damaged following the encounter with the parked car.
Further investigations had the Knightdale police officers, seen at the scene by ABC11, sorting through the contents of the crashed Sorento until the early morning. Amongst scattered products around the SUV, the police meticulously documented evidence and are continuing their efforts to apprehend the three suspects who evaporated into the night's embrace after the chase conceded.
Local residents and the community are being asked to provide any information that may assist in the ongoing investigation.
