St. Cloud Police Arrest Kids in Attempted Car Theft, Teen Auto Crime Trend Emerges

(KNSI) – The sun had barely risen over St. Cloud when the call came in on Monday morning of kids allegedly trying to steal a vehicle.

At 5:20, police were called about suspicious activity along the 1100 block of 10th Avenue Southeast, for multiple juveniles attempting to break into a parked car.

The suspects were gone when police arrived, but their search didn’t end there. Police began canvassing the neighborhood. Not far from the original scene, officers spotted a group of kids who matched the description. They fled and were arrested after a brief foot chase. Police say the kids were between the ages of 12 and 14.

The case will be sent to the Sherburne County Attorney’s Office for possible charges. This incident marks the second such arrest in recent weeks, highlighting a troubling trend that has put the St. Cloud Police Department on high alert.

The department has already issued warnings to residents about teenagers specifically targeting Kia and Hyundai vehicles, taking advantage of a known defect in their ignition switches that makes them easier to steal. Other cities in Minnesota saw soaring car thefts years ago, but the problem is new to St. Cloud.

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