KENT COUNTY, Mich. — Kent County Sheriff's Deputies are warning drivers to lock their doors and take out valuables after a spate of car thefts in Gaines Township.
Monday around 3:15 a.m., Kent County Sheriff's Deputies were proactively patrolling the area of 60th Street near Kalamazoo Ave due to a rash of vehicles being broken into and stolen.
That's when the sheriff's office says deputies spotted three vehicles enter the Crossings Apartments at a high rate of speed.
Deputies said these vehicles matched the descriptions of recently stolen vehicles, so more officers were called in to set up a perimeter around the apartment complex.
A KCSO Sergeant drove up on three vehicles in the parking lot and then a fourth as it passed by him as the pursuit began, deputies said.
Another deputy was waiting down the road and used spike strips, hitting three of the four vehicles, the sheriff's office said.
At that point, the vehicles split up and deputies chased one as it headed northbound on Kalamazoo Avenue.
This vehicle lost control and crashed at Kalamazoo Avenue and 28th Street.
Authorities said one 14-year-old and one 15-year-old Kentwood teenage boy were checked out by medical staff and then arrested.
"We are seeing a high concentration of juvenile crimes," said Sgt. Eric Brunner, a spokesperson with the sheriff's office. "That's anywhere from 12 to 17 that are being involved in drive-by shootings and armed robberies. They aren't even old enough to drive and yes, it's a serious problem that we're looking at."
With the help of the Kentwood Police Department and the Grand Rapids Police Department, officers found two abandoned Kia SUVs and one Kia sedan believed to have been stolen and used in the chase.
Authorities are still looking for a white Ford Fusion that may be stolen.
There have been 336 stolen vehicles so far this year in Kent County compared to 303 last year.
They're also investigating whether or not these juvenile suspects are associated with the KIA Boyz.
The impact these thefts have on victims can't be forgotten so deputies say the community needs to help.
"If you know of someone who's partaking in some of this, let somebody know," said Brunner. "Get them some help, because we don't want to end up with their family or friends involved in a crash or getting arrested or involved in the juvenile justice system. That's the last thing we want."
If you have information that could help to move the investigation forward, you can call the KCSO at 616-632-6125, or call Silent Observer at 616-774-2345 to report information safely and anonymously.
►Make it easy to keep up to date with more stories like this. Download the 13 ON YOUR SIDE app now.
Have a news tip? Email news@13onyourside.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter. Subscribe to our YouTube channel.