Teenage Runaway From Stafford Stole 2 Cars, Crashed One: Police

Fredericksburg VA

25 March, 2022

2:36 PM

Description

STAFFORD COUNTY, VA — A 14-year-old boy from Stafford County stole a pair of cars after running away from his group home on Thursday, according to the Stafford County Sheriff's Office. The boy faces a grand larceny charge and is now at the Juvenile Detention Center. Around 6:15 a.m. on Thursday, a resident in Vista Woods realized that someone stole their car. When they woke up, they saw that their Lincoln Town Car was no longer in the driveway. A Stafford County deputy began to enter the stolen car into police systems. He then learned that the car crashed in Augusta County. The driver abandoned the car in a ditch, police said. Authorities determined that the car sustained minor damage and was stuck in the ditch. Virginia State Police recovered the car, but they did not immediately find the driver, according to the police report. Later in the morning, Virginia State Police said they found a 14-year-old boy walking down the interstate in Montgomery County, Virginia. Authorities found another stolen vehicle nearby. Police identified the boy as a runaway from Stafford County. Officials have not publicly identified the child due to Virginia laws protecting the identities of minors. The sheriff's office believes the boy stole the first car in Stafford County after he ran away from his group home. Authorities said the boy stole a second car after crashing the first in Augusta County. The boy made it to Montgomery County in the second car before he ran out of gas, police said. Virginia State Police said they found the boy about half of a mile from the second stolen car. The 14-year-old was charged with grand larceny, according to the Stafford County Sheriff's Office. He is being held at the Juvenile Detention Center. Have a story idea? Email me at [email protected] with tips, questions, comments, or concerns.