Boys aged 12 and 13 arrested in connection with multiple Glendale car thefts

Two suspects arrested in connection with a string of West Valley auto thefts are younger than the typical criminal mastermind.

An investigation into a rise in Kia and Honda thefts in west Glendale ended last month with the arrest of a 13-year-old boy and a 12-year-old boy, the Glendale Police Department announced Thursday.

Police believe the boys were involved in at least 11 auto thefts from Aug. 4 to Aug. 12. Police recovered multiple cars, including two that had not yet been reported stolen.

Officers nabbed the young suspects after responding to reports of a suspicious vehicle in a neighborhood near 67th Avenue and Bethany Home Road on Aug. 12. When they arrived in the neighborhood, they saw the boys running through yards and jumping fences.

Police used a drone to find the suspects hiding under an RV behind a home and took them into custody.

13-year-old boy used screwdriver in auto thefts, police say

The older suspect admitted to using a screwdriver to defeat the keyed ignition systems of Kias and Hondas for two months, police said. Certain Kia and Hyundai models are known to be susceptible to theft.

The younger boy admitted to participating in eight thefts during the summer, police said.

According to a police report, the boys typically took the stolen vehicles for joyrides. There is no indication they tried to sell the cars.

The older suspect said he was involved in a social media account that posted videos of cars being stolen and driven recklessly, police said.

The 13-year-old was booked on five counts of vehicle theft and one count each of attempted vehicle theft, possession of burglary tools and criminal trespassing.

The 12-year-old was booked on six counts of unlawful use of means of transportation and one count of criminal trespassing.

More charges could be filed if investigators connect the boys to additional crimes.

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