Ten Cleveland Teens Busted in Massive Multi-Vehicle Theft Spree

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Ten teenagers were arrested Sunday, Oct. 12, following a coordinated investigation by the Cleveland Division of Police into a string of vehicle break-ins and thefts that spanned multiple districts throughout the city. The arrests were made after police responded to a report of 24 vehicles broken into at the Hilton Garden Inn on Carnegie Avenue, with additional break-ins discovered near East 14th Street and Euclid Avenue and as far as East 120th Street and Mayfield Road.

“It is both deeply troubling and unacceptable to see teenagers engaging in such audacious and disruptive criminal behavior,” said Chief Todd in a statement issued Monday. “What the public can take confidence in is this: arrests have been made, and those responsible will face the full weight of the justice system.”

The investigation, initiated by Third District detectives and supported by intelligence from the Second District, revealed that suspects were using at least two stolen vehicles to carry out the crimes. By early afternoon, detectives, aided by the Real Time Crime Center and FLOCK license plate readers, tracked the movement of the stolen vehicles across Cleveland.

One vehicle was traced to the 2100 block of Columbus Road, where suspects then stole a third vehicle. Shortly afterward, they abandoned a car and entered a fourth stolen vehicle. Police described the suspects' actions as reckless and dangerous to the public, law enforcement, and themselves.

The suspects were ultimately apprehended at a vacant apartment building in the 2600 block of Loop Avenue with assistance from the Cleveland Police Aviation Unit, K-9 Units, all five police districts, and the Narcotics Unit. Officers recovered three firearms hidden inside the building, which suspects had used to evade police while committing felonies, including vehicle theft and property destruction.

The arrested individuals include:

• A 12-year-old male from Cleveland

• A 14-year-old female from Cleveland

• Two 14-year-old males from Cleveland

• A 15-year-old male from Cleveland

• A 15-year-old female from Richmond Heights

• A 16-year-old male from Cleveland

• A 16-year-old female from Cleveland

• A 17-year-old male from Maple Heights

• An 18-year-old female from Akron

Potential charges include Breaking and Entering, Receiving Stolen Property, Tampering with Evidence, Obstructing Justice, Grand Theft of Motor Vehicles, and Having Weapons While Under Disability. Six of the nine juveniles were admitted to Juvenile Detention and are awaiting formal charges. The adult female was booked into County Jail.

The final number of vehicles involved in the crime spree has not been confirmed, as police continue identifying additional victims.

Chief Todd praised the collaborative effort of the departments involved. “I want to commend the outstanding work of our detectives and officers. When faced with crimes of this magnitude, it is the men and women of the Cleveland Division of Police who step up; swiftly, decisively, and with unwavering professionalism.”

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