INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana State Police is searching for at least one suspect after a chase of a stolen car ended in a crash on Interstate 65 near downtown Indianapolis early Wednesday.
Shortly after 2 a.m. Feb. 21, a state trooper attempted to stop a stolen car on the near east side of Indianapolis when the driver fled and led police on a chase, an ISP spokesperson told 13News.
According to court documents, the stolen car reached speeds up to 110 mph as it went through red lights and stop signs.
The chase ended on I-65, near West Street, when the car crashed into a concrete wall. Police said three people ran from the car, and two were taken into custody by troopers.
Troopers found four handguns, two of which were reported stolen, inside the car. Some of the guns were modified to be fully automatic, police said.
"These young folks were out for more than a joyride," said Sgt. John Perrine with Indiana State Police. "The stolen vehicle is one thing, but the crime gets much more serious when we look inside and find not only stolen firearms or firearms that are equipped with illegal modifications to make them fully automatic."
Police arrested a 21-year-old man and a 17-year-old male on preliminary charges of possession of a machine gun and auto theft. The 17-year-old also faces a preliminary charge of unlawful possession of a firearm by a dangerous person.
Police said the investigation into the incident is ongoing.
Teens stealing cars is something police reports show happens fairly often in Indianapolis.
IMPD said it doesn't track the number of juveniles arrested for motor vehicle theft, but police reports 13News collected showed six juveniles, ranging in age from 14 to 16, were arrested for that this month.
Wednesday, a 14-year-old was arrested for stealing a car and being in possession of cocaine.
The first week of the month, four teens, three of which under the legal age to drive, allegedly stole a car.
"They shouldn’t even be driving more or less stealing a car and then driving around. This responsibility falls on the parents, oftentimes," said IMPD Lt. Shane Foley. "These kids are out, unsupervised and stealing vehicles. I’ve come across situations where juveniles at a place and I’m like, ‘How did you get to this side of town?’ and they don’t have a plausible explanation. We reach out to the parents, and the parents don’t know where they are."
In most cases, the thieves are taking off in certain cars. IMPD said thefts of KIA are up 193% and Hyundai thefts are up 334% from last year.
"If it weren't for the thefts of these makes, thefts would be down," said Foley.
Police say owners of these cars need to be proactive in protecting it.
"One of the most important things is to be aware that this is an issue and the ease that these vehicles can be stolen," said Foley.
IMPD continues to give away free steering wheel locks to owners of KIAs and Hyundais at any of its district headquarters.
