Two boys and also a teen girl were detained in connection with the LAPD cruiser theft, which are linked to the agency’s cadet program, LAPD Chief Charlie Beck announced on Thursday.
The teens stole two LAPD cruisers from the two different South Los Angeles stations, that kicked off two chases on Wednesday night and both ended in crashes.
Beck told to reporters at a news conference on Thursday afternoon that a third stolen LAPD vehicle was found as part of the investigation, and the cadets may have impersonated police officers in order to sign out the vehicles.
Earlier in the evening, police realized that the two cruisers had been stolen, one from the Central Traffic Division and the other from the South Bureau, police said.
At about 9:35 p.m., a patrol officer spotted both vehicles together and two separate chases ensued.
One of the SUV’s hopped a curb and crashed into a building in the area of 77th and San Pedro streets. A neighbor told that he saw two teens exit the cruiser and run.
The second SUV crashed into another car a few miles away, at South Central Avenue and East Adams Boulevard. The woman driving the car was taken to a hospital with minor injuries.
Three teens were eventually caught and detained. They were not identified.
Adams/Central Pursuit end, @LAPD finding/chasing dwn 1 of 2 stolen PD cruisers onite. 3 juveniles in custody. @CBSLA @KCBSKCALDesk @KNX1070 pic.twitter.com/ij9Uy3B7u9
— Mark Dunn (@mobile2markdunn) June 15, 2017
Beck said that he has ordered a top-to-bottom review of the department’s cadet program in response to the thefts.
Amid the two chases, another patrol car was involved in a third crash. No officers were hurt.
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Mrudula Duddempudi.
