GREEN BAY (NBC 26) -- Green Bay Police said a 12-year-old and 14-year-old were taken into custody after a stolen car was found in the 900 block of Shea Avenue.
Police are warning people about cars being stolen, saying the number of auto thefts is increasing and the age of the suspects is going down. The Green Bay Police Department noted they've already investigated 20 car thefts this year. Over the last five years, they said auto thefts are up 59%.
According to court records obtained by NBC 26, a car being used to Glass Nickel Pizza Co. delivery was stolen at the Hampton Inn just before 7:30 Wednesday night.
Police said the car was left running and when officers arrived, they were unable to locate it. Commander Kevin Warych with the Green Bay Police Department said around midnight that night, officers responded to 900 block of Shea Avenue for a report of a possible car in the ditch.
"I was woken up by my dog growling and barking. We had someone knocking at the door," said Taylor Grech who said he was shocked to see someone so young at the door. He added that his girlfriend is the person who called police.
Warych said the 12 and 14-year-old were both taken into custody for operating a motor vehicle without owner's consent. He said the 14-year-old is responsible for four prior other auto thefts.
"The officers were shocked. It's a 12-year-old. 12-year-olds should've even be driving to begin with. They don't know the rules of the road. They haven't been taught the rules of the road and when a young person who has never been taught that is driving a stolen vehicle, driving on the roadway really puts all drivers at risk," said Warych.
Police are reminding drivers not to leave cars running and unattended. Police also called the age of these suspects alarming.
