Car Caper Features 7 Underage Culprits

(NewsReady.com) – Vehicle thefts have increased dramatically over the last few years. In 2021, there were more than 932,000 SUVs, cars, and trucks stolen, a 17% increase from 2019. At one point, hacks teaching people how to steal vehicles spread across social media like wildfire. Police in Memphis, Tennessee, have now arrested a group of teenagers for similar crimes.

On January 17, the Memphis Police Department issued a statement on social media informing the public of the arrests of eight teenagers the day before. According to the police, they received a call about a car accident in the afternoon on January 16. Officers were told a large, armed group was trying to steal a Hyundai. They were also inside another Hyundai.

MPD said the eight teens are charged, accused of stealing and crashing two cars in midtown, then trying to evade arrest as police tried to catch them. https://t.co/2KmSVvsq5h

— ABC24 Memphis (@ABC24Memphis) January 17, 2023

When the group saw law enforcement arrive, they fled the scene on foot. Memphis Police then used their aviation unit, uniformed officers, and K9 units to search for the suspects. They were able to apprehend and arrest them — but their ages were shocking.

A 13-year-old male was charged with evading arrest on foot, auto theft, and attempted auto theft
A 13-year-old male was charged with two counts of auto theft, attempted auto theft, and evading arrest on foot
A 13-year-old male was charged with theft of a firearm, unlawful possession of a weapon, evading arrest on foot, attempted auto theft, and auto theft
A 15-year-old male was charged with two counts of theft, attempted auto theft, and evading arrest
A 15-year-old was charged with theft of a firearm, unlawful possession of a weapon, attempted auto theft, auto theft, and evading arrest on foot
A 16-year-old male was charged with evading arrest on foot, unlawful possession of a weapon, theft of a firearm, two counts of auto theft, and one count of attempted auto theft
A 17-year-old male was charged with evading arrest on foot, two counts of auto theft, and one count of attempted auto theft
18-year-old David Stockard was charged with theft of a firearm, unlawful possession of a weapon, attempted auto theft, and evading arrest on foot

All suspects have been released from police custody.