URGENT UPDATE: Four teenage boys from Grand Forks are now in custody following a significant surge in car thefts. This alarming development was confirmed by local authorities earlier today, with reports indicating that the boys, aged 13 and 14, were involved in stealing multiple vehicles in the area.
At approximately 8:30 PM on Wednesday, two of the boys, both aged 13, voluntarily turned themselves in at the Grand Forks police station. They are part of a larger investigation that has implicated a total of 13 young boys in a series of car thefts that unfolded last week. The police are actively pursuing leads as the situation develops.
According to Duane Johnson, the local juvenile officer, the boys had been caught joyriding and were involved in a disturbing incident where they overturned a stolen car 10 miles east of East Grand Forks. The two remaining boys, aged 13 and 14, were apprehended and held overnight in the East Grand Forks city jail after this incident.
The investigation reveals that the boys had been working together, often taking cars with the keys left inside, driving them for about 15 minutes, and then abandoning them. Johnson stated that the boys had previously been released to their parents’ custody as they awaited proceedings in Juvenile Court.
This spree of theft was exacerbated by a report from local resident Jack St. Lawrence, who alerted authorities that his 1956 model car was stolen near the Jerome Dunlevy Ready-Mix Plant. Shortly after this report, a country school bus driver witnessed an overturned vehicle and saw two youths flee the scene, prompting a community effort to locate them.
Local farmers joined in the chase, ultimately assisting police in capturing the boys as they attempted to escape. St. Lawrence’s car suffered extensive damage, highlighting the reckless behavior displayed by the young suspects.
As the investigation continues, local authorities urge parents to remain vigilant and discuss the seriousness of such actions with their children. This incident has raised significant concern within the community, as residents grapple with the implications of youth crime.
What’s Next: Authorities are set to conduct further interrogations and may hold follow-up meetings with community members to address safety concerns and prevent future incidents. Stay tuned for updates as this story develops.
