"It's a serious crime:" Rash of auto thefts has MPD urging dealerships to lock their keys up
MILWAUKEE -- A stolen car was recovered, and a 16-year-old is now in custody after a crash. The car involved is one of the cars stolen recently from a dealership.
Police say they're only looking for one car now in connection with the recent dealership break-ins.
There were three taken from Russ Darrow Honda near 91st and Brown Deer in Milwaukee on Wednesday morning, May 18th. One was found Thursday morning, after it crashed at 85th and Nash.
Police say some people in the car got away, but one of the suspects was held by someone living nearby.
"We just heard a big bang," Jeff Noble said.
Noble says what may have been even more jarring than the crash itself, was seeing his neighbor, the owner of the vehicle that was hit, essentially detaining one of the suspects while waiting for police.
"The guy was holding the (suspect) down on the ground," said Noble.
Russ Darrow dealership near 91st and Brown Deer
Police arrested a 16-year-old for operating the vehicle without the owner's consent. The car, a gray Honda Civic, had been stolen from a car dealership less than 24 hours before.
"This recent rash of break-ins into car dealers and to steal cars is new the last week or so," said Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn.
Flynn said the bigger problem has been going on for the past two years -- juveniles stealing cars at an alarming rate.
"There are people in the last five months we've arrested four times already for being in a stolen car," said Flynn.
In many cases, the vehicle thefts end in crashes.
"It's a serious crime. It's committed by immature people and right now, for too many of those immature people, the risk-reward thing is, it's more fun to steal the car and get chased by the cops because there's no worry about any kind of sanction," said Flynn.
As they continue to make arrests, four so far in connection with the recent dealership incidents, police are calling on dealerships to take their own steps.
"We just urge anybody who's got a car lot to take steps to lock those keys and make it impossible for them to steal them," said Flynn.
As far as the 16-year-old arrested at 85th and Nash Thursday morning, police say the case will be presented to the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office in the coming days for charges.
In addition to the break-ins at the Russ Darrow dealership Wednesday -- two other dealerships were hit.
The first break-in occurred around 4:00 a.m. at the Braeger Ford dealership near 27th and Plainfield in Greenfield.
Braeger Ford dealership near 27th and Plainfield in Greenfield
"Officers were called by a security company to the Braeger dealership on South 27th Street in our city for a report there were suspicious people in the parking lot," Sgt. Chris Deglopper with the Greenfield Police Department said.
Police said one car was stolen -- and that vehicle was recovered in Milwaukee, near 27th and Capitol later on Wednesday.
Braeger Ford dealership near 27th and Plainfield in Greenfield
Vehicle stolen from dealership in Greenfield recovered in Milwaukee
Police are still looking for the suspects. Police say they appeared to be juveniles.
"I dont know why these juvenile are targeting these auto dealerships, but we, as well as other jurisdictions are well aware of this and actually have special patrols out. We would love to catch them," Sgt. Deglopper said.
The second break-in happened at Diamond Jims Carriage Auto Mart near 97th and Greenfield.
Diamond Jims Carriage Auto Mart
Travis Dowhen
"Walked up to the front door and the front door was kicked in," Travis Dowhen said. "It hurts the bottom line."
Dowhen said because of so many recent break-ins involving dealerships, they were prepared.
Diamond Jims Carriage Auto Mart
"We're a small dealership -- so we decided it makes a little more sense for us to take all of our keys home. Gives them no opportunity to steal cars from us," Dowhen said.
So far this year, police say there have been more than 2,200 auto thefts in Milwaukee.