What started as a stop of a stolen SUV on Thursday ended with three 15-year-old boys in custody and four vehicles tied to an overnight theft spree, according to Metro Nashville police.
Investigators say detectives linked the teens to four stolen vehicles across the city. After officers pulled over the SUV, they were led to additional cars and ultimately to the suspects themselves. During interviews, police say all three juveniles admitted their involvement.
Each teen is now facing four counts of vehicle theft. Police tied the group to a 2013 Hyundai Tucson, a Kia Rio, a Kia Sportage, and a blue Kia Seltos, as reported by WKRN. Detectives say the trio allegedly drove off in the Tucson around 9:30 p.m. Officers later recovered the Rio after it crashed and then disabled the Tucson, which allowed them to take all three teens into custody. Police also noted that the driver did not have a valid license.
How detectives say the thefts went down
According to detectives, the teens used a now-familiar tactic to get the cars running. Investigators say the suspects "stripped and hardwired steering columns" to start the vehicles, causing heavy damage to each one, according to WKRN. During their interviews with officers, the juveniles again admitted their role in all four thefts, police said.
A growing teen auto theft problem
The latest arrests are landing in the middle of what has already been a busy spring for Metro detectives dealing with vehicle break-ins and thefts across Nashville. In late May, WSMV reported that two juveniles who had been listed as missing were arrested after an alleged string of downtown vehicle break-ins, underscoring what police say is a recurring pattern of teen-involved auto crimes.
Police: Lock up, take the keys, secure the guns
Metro police are once again telling drivers not to make it easy for thieves.
"The MNPD strongly encourages Nashvillians and visitors to lock their automobile doors, secure any valuables, especially guns, and REMOVE THE KEYS," the department said in a warning shared via the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department. Anyone with information about these or similar thefts is urged to call Crime Stoppers at 615-742-7463 or Metro's non-emergency line at 615-862-8600.
