Teens suspected in Lakewood car-theft spree

LAKEWOOD – A least one of four young car-theft suspected busted over the Thanksgiving weekend apparently is more interested in setting a record than the possible punishment he faces.

A resident of the 9300 block of West Iowa Place called police about 4 a.m. Sunday to report someone was trying to steal their Dodge in the 9300 block of West Iowa Place and that a red Jeep was parked in the middle of the street nearby.

By the time officers arrived, both vehicles were gone, but a police officer soon found several vehicles including a Dodge pickup truck matching the description of the vehicle stolen on West Iowa Place and a red Jeep. Other officers responding to the scene found two other cars idling at with their lights on and no one inside at the parking lot at 10322 West Florida Ave. After determining that four other vehicles – including the red Jeep – had been stolen, officers began questioning three juveniles they found in the area.

While checking the vehicles in the lot and nearby areas, officers found that five of them had been burglarized. Those officers also found a fourth juvenile hiding behind a vehicle in the parking lot, he too was placed in custody.

While he was being arrested, one of the four teens being arrested, one of the asked if they had “set a record for the most stolen cars in a day,” according to Lakewood Police spokesman Steve Davis.

All four suspects were taken to a detention facility and the case has been forwarded to the Jefferson County Regional Auto Theft Task Force (JCRATT) for additional investigation.

The suspects could be charged with aggravated motor vehicle theft, theft by receiving, conspiracy to commit a felony and other charges, according to Davis.