MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Three teenagers are accused of stealing cars in downtown Memphis Monday night.
Memphis police said three teenagers targeted cars parked at Peabody Place and Fourth Street at 10 p.m. Officers arrested a 15-, 16- and 17-year-old boy.
MPD said they broke into three vehicles. One of the teenagers is accused of throwing a gun as they tried to run away. The other two suspects were also armed when police arrested them.
These carjackings come after a WREG investigation in April showed just how often these crimes are happening. Memphis police said robbers often go for guns.
Car thefts explode in numbers, fueled by guns
The owner of an auto glass repair shop told us that in some cases it can take up to weeks to repair windows, and glass for certain car models can be harder to come by.
“We probably get at least 100 calls a day about thefts, and we get about 20% of that,” Chris Eden, owner of Eden Auto Glass “It’s hard for us to get glass, especially for Hyundais and Kias. We have to ask the dealers or outside the city”.
Which cars are stolen the most, the least in Memphis
In this most recent case downtown, detectives said the thieves pried open a steering column on a Hyundai, which is common when attempting to steal a vehicle.
The thefts make visitors think twice about where they park when they visit.
“It cost us $22 for the whole day, and you’re telling me we’re going to be able to get in. That’s not good at all,” said visitor Avery Ganaway.
The teenagers were charged with unlawful possession of a weapon, attempted theft of property and three counts of vehicle theft.
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