WARREN (WWJ) — A man and four teenagers from Detroit are in police custody after they were caught trying to steal brand new Dodge Durangos from a business in Warren early Monday morning.
Warren police were called to Ground Effects Automotive — near 10 Mile and Dequindre Roads — just after 6:30 a.m. after getting a 911 call regarding a group of suspicious people in the back of the parking lot, where several new Dodge/Stellantis vehicles were parked.
When officers showed up, they found a new Durango “attempting to intentionally ram the security gate at the business and flee,” police officials said in a press release. A second new Dodge Durango had also tried to intentionally ram the security gate.
Due to the crash, both Durangos became disabled. That’s when several suspects got out of SUVs and ran from the scene in various directions, according to police. After a short foot chase and search of the area, officers found and arrested five suspects.
Police officials said two 16-year-olds and two 17-year-olds, along with a 24-year-old man, were all taken into custody. All the suspects are from Detroit, according to police. One suspect remained at-large, as of Monday afternoon.
Authorities believe the suspects targeted and tried to steal six new Durangos — five of which were Durango SRT models.
All of the SUVs the suspects tried to steal have been recovered, officials said. So far, investigators believe the value of the attempted theft and damaged property is around $500,000.
Police are continuing to follow up on several leads as part of this investigation to see if this incident is connected to other thefts in the last few months, officials said.
Investigators will be presenting the facts of the case to the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office, who will make a determination on criminal charges.
Officials are asking anyone who knows something about the attempted thefts in Warren to contact Detective Bechill at 586-574-4713 or wbechill@warrenpd.org.
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