INDIANAPOLIS — A traffic stop led IMPD officers to 16 stolen cars and the arrest of three teenagers at an east Indianapolis scrapyard Thursday afternoon.
In the afternoon of Nov. 9, an IMPD officer attempted to stop a stolen Hyundai vehicle near the intersection of East 30th Street and Forest Manor Avenue.
The car did not stop, and the officer followed it into a junk/scrapyard near the 2800 block of North Drexel Avenue, near Massachusetts Avenue and East 30th Street.
Two 17-year-olds and a 15-year-old ran from the car but were quickly taken into custody and arrested, IMPD said.
Officers saw cars at the scrapyard "that they were familiar with as possibly being stolen," police said, and a search warrant led to the discovery of 15 stolen cars — in addition to the original stolen vehicle.
IMPD said this is the same location of an investigation a few years ago when more than 20 stolen vehicles were found.
IMPD is working with Indiana State Police on the investigation that began Thursday.
Anyone with information on the investigation is asked to contact Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 317-262-8477.
In a statement posted on social media, IMPD reminded owners of Kia and Hyundai cars that free steering wheels locks can be obtained at any IMPD roll call location Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
