WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – A rash of carjackings and reports of stolen vehicles ended around 4:45 a.m. Sunday with the arrest of a 15-year-old West Lafayette boy and a 16-year-old Lafayette boy.
Police suspect the two juveniles were stealing from cars in the New Chauncey area beginning March 26, according to a news release from West Lafayette police. Police also suspect the boys stole two cars in the area, one of which had a gun locked inside.
The boys are suspected of leading Lafayette police on a chase in the second stolen vehicle.
Both cars were later recovered, but police did not recover the gun in the stolen vehicle, according to the news release. After the youth’s arrest, police found the stolen gun and many of the other stolen items from several vehicles in the New Chauncey area, police said.
Because of the robberies, West Lafayette police began concentrated patrols in the New Chauncey area, and around 4:45 a.m. Sunday, officers saw two people near a car behind a home near Lutz Avenue and Rusk Street, according to the news release. The juveniles were trying to steal the car, but were trapped and fled, police said.
The case has been transferred to juvenile justice for possible prosecution.
Police said the case remains open and ask anyone with information about these robberies or anyone who may have been the victim of a recent robbery in West Lafayette to contact the West Lafayette Police Department at (765 ) 775-5200.
Contact Ron Wilkins at rwilkins@jconline.com. Follow on Twitter: @RonWilkins2.
