Group Of Youths Steal 2 Vehicles; Crash 1, Ditch Another

A group of youths are accused of tearing through the west side in stolen vehicles on Friday morning.

According to investigators, a group of four children stole two vehicles. The girls, both 12, took off in a blue SUV and the boys, brothers ages 13 and 10, in a black Honda Accord.

Police said that the four broke into Rieser Auto Body on Sylvan Avenue and used one car to smash through the gate and then took off in two other cars.

One woman who said that she witnessed the young drivers followed the vehicles in her black Toyota Forerunner. While following them, she struck an oncoming van after going through a stop sign. The crash caused the van to flip near Westgate Avenue and West Broad Street.

Bill Varden was in the van that flipped. He said he witnessed the young drivers as well.

"(They) flew by us going about 40 (mph,") Varden said. "Saw like, a blur of that and then I saw that black Forerunner coming toward us."

One of the girls crashed the blue SUV into a utility pole near West Broad Street and South Westgate Avenue.

Police found the abandoned black Honda a short distance away. 10TV News crews were on the scene as police took a 10-year-old boy into custody.

Neighbors said that they had witnessed the youths destroying property before.

"They hit a house and then backed up from the house, then went tearing off because I hollered at them," said neighbor Kim Tarullo.

Many said that they had enough with the antics and were glad the children were in custody before someone was seriously injured.

"They're not good children to be around," said Tarullo. "Their parents need to take control."

The girls were taken to Nationwide Children's Hospital. They were expected to recover from their injuries.

The boys, who were in police custody, are charged with breaking and entering and receiving stolen property. The girls have yet to be charged.

The boys’ stepfather did deny what his children are accused of doing.

“They do bad things and make bad choices,” said Dale Borders. “We’re not bad parents. The fact is, they take out, they run at night. I mean, I can’t watch them all.”

He said the boys regularly sneak out at night.

“We called Children Services already. Nobody will take them. Police won’t take them,” Borders said.

The identities of those involved were not immediately released.

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