KALAMAZOO, Mich. (WOOD) — The Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety says it arrested three teens who were trying to steal a Kia early Monday morning.
“This past weekend, we had three juveniles that were caught trying to break into an automobile,” said Capt. Scott VanderEnde with KDPS.
The vehicle was privately owned and located at an apartment complex, according to VanderEnde.
“(The juveniles) were tracked with drone, K-9, our officers chased by foot,” VanderEnde said. “Luckily, we were able to apprehend all three of them.”
Much of the area’s motor vehicle theft is being driven by juveniles, according to VanderEnde. In this case, the three arrested were between ages 14 and 16.
Now, he says, police are working backward to see if they can connect the three to previous Kia thefts. One of them has a prior history of motor vehicle theft related to a Kia, according to VanderEnde.
“I think this would be identified as a small group of local individuals,” he said. “…I don’t think they’re connected to a large criminal enterprise or anything along those lines.”