Thieves tried to steal multiple vehicles from Kenosha dealership: "Oftentimes these end in tragedy"
KENOSHA COUNTY -- Kenosha County Sheriff's officials are investigating an attempt to steal several cars from an auto dealership. Deputies found four cars with their engines running and a damaged door, but there were no suspects in sight. It is believed the suspects later targeted a dealership in Illinois.
Suspects led police on a chase from Illinois to Racine on Sunday, February 19th after Racine County Sheriff's officials said they stole several luxury cars from a Libertyville, Illinois auto dealer.
Gregory Infiniti in Libertyville, Illinois
Vehicle stolen from Gregory Infiniti in Libertyville, IL
Vehicle stolen from Gregory Infiniti in Libertyville, IL
"Stealing cars, going on these joyrides, oftentimes these end in crashes and have deadly consequences and end in tragedy," said Racine County Sheriff Christopher Schmaling.
Investigators say a Kenosha Nissan dealership also had signs of a break-in and was possibly a first intended target.
"This group of people, or people they are connected with, attempted to steal these cars. They couldn't steal them, and they went down to Illinois where they found a little easier victim to steal cars from," said Kenosha County Sheriff David Beth.
The suspects allegedly broke into the Kenosha dealership and tried to steal cars that were parked in the service area. They then tried to ram through the overhead garage door, but were unsuccessful.
Kenosha County Sheriff David Beth
"As we learned from this, they didn't steal brand new cars. It appears they went for the service cars, where the keys were available," said Beth.
Sheriff Beth said these incidents illustrate a disturbing pattern.
"I can see that the drugs that are being trafficked between Milwaukee and Chicago. The stolen cars, a lot of the issues that the bigger cities face is starting to spread here," Beth said.
FOX6 News reached out to officials at the Kenosha dealership about the break-in and the damage, but so far we have not heard back.
Kenosha Nissan
Racine County Sheriff's officials said the suspects in the Libertyville, Illinois dealership theft left in five stolen vehicles and traveled at speeds reaching 115 miles-per-hour on I-94 after the theft.
In an attempt to stop the suspects as the vehicles weaved in and out of traffic and cut off other drivers in the middle of the night, stop sticks were deployed as deputies followed one vehicle near Highway K in Racine County.
"That vehicle went over the spike strips, punctured the tires. That vehicle then slammed into an innocent vehicle, causing that vehicle to go into the median wall. Then the suspect vehicle went into the eastern ditch line near Highway G. As soon as they went into that ditch, two occupants in that vehicle fled on foot," Schmaling said.
Pursuit in Racine County
Despite a search using K-9 officers, the suspects got away.
There is NO ONE in custody in connection with the theft from the Illinois dealership, and the attempted theft in Kenosha.
Anyone with information should contact authorities.