GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – Green Bay Police are warning drivers about an “alarming trend” of vehicle thefts around the city – including one incident this week.
“This trend of stolen cars in the city is very alarming. We put out all the time the importance of taking your keys out and not leaving your cars unattended – because that can help avoid this whole situation,” says Commander Kevin Warych, “Take the couple extra seconds, shut the car off, do what you need to do, return to the car and drive away.”
Two people were taken into custody for stealing a car left running during a pizza delivery in Green Bay on Wednesday night. Around 7:30 p.m., the delivery driver left his car running while dropping off food at a hotel – and the vehicle was swiped. Just after midnight, police received a call from a citizen that someone was knocking on their door and that a car may have been driven into a ditch. Officers found that vehicle was the one stolen from the pizza delivery driver.
“Hopefully all businesses hear this and all delivery drivers see and hear this so they can protect themselves. The last thing we want is for any cars to be stolen. And I’m sure when people are trying to earn a living and do their job, they don’t want their sole method of transportation to be taken away from them,” Warych says.
While the rise in thefts is a serious problem, that’s not the only concern raised in this case.
“Even more alarming is that the suspects in this case are 12 and 14. They don’t even know how to drive to begin with, and that’s really putting all drivers at risk,” Warych tells WTAQ News, “Looking at the 14-year-old juvenile, we concluded that this juvenile was responsible for four other thefts – stealing cars – in the city. Which is very alarming and a concern for every driver and resident, because a 14-year-old shouldn’t be driving to begin with.”
Police are recommending juvenile charges against both suspects. The age of those arrested is prompting the department to ask parents to keep tabs on their children.
“Make sure parents are having conversations with their children and making sure they know where their children are. Then really as a collective approach, as a community as a whole, we need everybody’s help in solving this problem,” Warych says, “Making sure kids know what the ramifications are and the dangers and risks that are involved here. We don’t want to see anybody get hurt.”
So far this year, Green Bay police have investigated 20 stolen vehicles. Vehicle thefts are up 59% compared to the five-year average.
