UPDATE: Four teenage boys have been arrested in Grand Forks for their involvement in a series of car thefts, according to authorities. The boys, aged 13 and 14, are now in custody following multiple incidents that have shocked the community.
At approximately 8:30 p.m. on November 12, 1958, two of the boys, both 13 years old, voluntarily turned themselves in at the Grand Forks police station. This action comes after an investigation that linked 13 boys in their early teens to a spate of car thefts over the past week.
According to Duane Johnson, a juvenile officer, the boys confessed to stealing four cars since Monday night. They reportedly targeted vehicles with keys left inside, drove them for about 15 minutes, and then abandoned them. The shocking behavior has raised serious concerns among parents and local residents.
In a separate incident, two other boys, one 13 and the other 14, were held overnight in the East Grand Forks city jail after flipping a stolen car 10 miles east of East Grand Forks. Witnesses reported seeing the car leave the road and overturn, prompting an immediate response from local law enforcement.
The series of thefts began when Jack St. Lawrence, a local resident, reported his 1956 model car stolen from 1st St. S. E. near the Jerome Dunlevy Ready-Mix Plant where he works. Just half an hour later, a country school bus driver observed the overturned vehicle and noted that two young individuals fled the scene on foot.
St. Lawrence, alerted by police, joined forces with several farmers in the area to track down the fleeing boys. The community’s quick response led to heightened tensions as the boys attempted to escape, resulting in significant damage to St. Lawrence’s vehicle.
These recent events have sparked conversations among parents and community leaders about juvenile delinquency and the safety of local neighborhoods. As the investigations continue, the boys have been released into the custody of their parents while awaiting proceedings in Juvenile Court.
Residents are urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity as the local police ramp up their efforts to address this troubling trend. More updates are expected as authorities continue to unravel the details of these thefts.
Stay tuned for further developments as this story unfolds.
