JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Seven children — ranging from ages 10 to 15 — were arrested as the result of a long-term criminal investigation involving a rash of car thefts this summer, Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters announced on Wednesday.
Waters said the adolescents were hot-wiring cars as portrayed in viral social media videos. He said the younger kids were being “groomed by the older teens” to steal cars.
Waters said the goal of the car thefts wasn’t profit, but “joy-riding and to impress girls.”
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The latest theft involved in the investigation happened on Aug. 2 when a 2019 Kia sedan was stolen by “young car thieves” from a Westside home. The vehicle ended up on fire in a ditch next to a New Town gas station following a suspect chase involving the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.
Waters called the series of car thefts a “spree,” but did not say how many thefts exactly were involved. He urged owners of the targeted car brands to get anti-theft devices.