Four juveniles charged in connection to stolen vehicles in Laurel

LAUREL, Del. – Four juveniles were taken into custody after police caught a vehicle theft in progress last week.

Shortly after 3 a.m. Thursday, a Laurel Police officer on patrol observed a suspicious vehicle in the parking lot of The Car Store, located at 28959 Sussex Highway, while the business was closed. The officer saw the vehicle leave the business and begin traveling southbound on Sussex Highway while driving erratically. A traffic stop was subsequently conducted south of Gordy Road after waiting for an additional backup officer.

Contact was made with the four occupants, none of whom were the registered owner of the vehicle. Officers also observed damage to the vehicle’s steering column, and determined that the driver did not have a valid license. All occupants were detained as officers made contact with the vehicle’s registered owner in Maryland, who reportedly did not know any of the detained subjects and was under the impression that their vehicle was being serviced at a car dealership in Selbyville.

Selbyville Police were subsequently contacted in reference to checking the dealership. It was discovered that earlier that night, the same suspects went onto the dealership property, tampered with several vehicles, and successfully stole a 2016 Kia Optima. The subjects later returned in that vehicle and were able to gain access to an additional 2011 Kia Optima, which was the vehicle involved in the Laurel PD traffic stop.

The driver was identified as a 15-year-old male from Berlin, while the passengers were identified as a 14-year-old male, 15-year-old male, and 16-year-old male, all from Greenwood. The subjects were charged by Laurel Police with receiving stolen property over $1500. The driver was also charged with driving without a valid license and failure to maintain a single lane.

Selbyville PD found probable cause to charge two of the subjects (both 15-year-olds) with possession of burglar tools, two counts of theft of a motor vehicle, second degree conspiracy, three counts of third degree criminal mischief $1000 to $5000, and three counts of third degree criminal trespass.

The subjects were all arraigned and released to their respective guardians on their own recognizance.