Police: Group of teen boys likely responsible for 'dozens' of thefts from car dealerships, including $75k Camaro

SEATTLE -- Police believe a group of teenage boys is responsible for as many as a dozen car thefts from area dealerships, including the theft and brief joy-ride that wrecked a $75,000 Chevrolet Camaro.

Officers have long been investigating a string of car thefts from dealerships on Lake City way, Seattle police said. They got a break in the case on Oct. 11, police said, when officers noticed three teenage boys lurking around a dealership. The boys, all aged 15, were questioned, and one allegedly admitted to taking more than 10 vehicles. Police arrested one of the boys at the scene.

A few days later on Oct. 19, police arrested another teenage boy allegedly involved in a theft from a dealership on Lake City Way Northeast.

He was questioned, leading police to believe he was also responsible for the dramatic burglary of a Camaro Z28 on Oct. 7.

Around 4:30 a.m. that morning, police received a call of a “dramatic” break-in at the Chevrolet Dealership in the 11300 block of Lake City Way, Seattle police said.

Police called to the scene found tire tracks on the dealership’s floor, broken glass and other evidence pointing to a thief breaking in to building, grabbing a set of car keys and driving a Camaro Z28 out of the front door.

Officers located the brand new Camaro a half mile from the dealership, parked in a driveway. Both the dealership and the Camaro were badly damaged in the heist. No sign of a thief was found that day.

Both teenage suspects were released to their parents after their arrests. They will likely face felony auto theft charges, police said.

Seattle police detectives are still investigating the thefts.