KENT COUNTY, Mich. — Two 17-year-old boys were arrested over the weekend in connection to car thefts in Kent County.
This marks the third arrest in relation to the thefts, with two of the suspects from Plainfield Township, and a third 17-year-old suspect, who was arrested last week, from Grand Rapids.
The thefts happened overnight June 22 when five vehicles were stolen from a Kent County car dealership. One of the stolen vehicles was found running and unoccupied in the Northview High School parking lot. Three other vehicles were found abandoned around Kent County.
The final vehicle was used in a breaking and entering at Skymint Cannabis Dispensary in Muskegon. The suspect in the breaking and entering led police on a car chase into Ottawa County.
The suspect involved in the dispensary break in was taken into custody after the pursuit, while two others involved in the initial car thefts remained at large.
The Kent County Sheriff's Office (KSCO) says that the individual who used one of the stolen vehicles in the dispensary break in is believed to also have been involved in the car dealership break in.
The dealership was initially broken into at 11:40 p.m. on June 22 and three cars were stolen. Suspects then returned to the dealership shortly after 1 a.m. on June 23 and stole two more vehicles.
KSCO says there may have been more than just the three suspects involved in the thefts, but that is still being investigated.
Investigators say the updates came through an anonymous tip through Silent Observer.
"Luckily, we had a break in the case over the weekend, a community member came forward be a silent observer, and we're very grateful for that... Kent County detectives performed a search warrant on a home in Plainfield Township and subsequently, two 17-year-old males from Plainfield township were arrested in connection with that breaking entering in the theft of those vehicles. And during the investigation, were able to find more information to connect the juvenile that was arrested by Ottawa and Muskegon county authorities after their police chase along I-96. So that juvenile is being held in Muskegon County and also is believed to be involved in the break in those charges will be forthcoming in our jurisdiction shortly," said Sgt. Eric Brunner, Public Information Officer for the Kent County Sheriff's Office.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Kent County Sheriff's Office at 616-632-6125 or Silent Observer at 616-774-2345.
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