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WEST HAVEN — At least six juveniles are facing charges after breaking into an auto body yard and creating a “demolition derby” with the vehicles, police said.
The incident occurred Thursday night at B&R Auto Repair at 2363 S. 1900 West, according to the Weber County Sheriff’s Office. Several male juveniles cut a hole in the fence of the secured lot where the vehicles were being stored and entered the lot, the sheriff’s office said.
The juveniles burglarized some of the cars and stole the keys to several others. They proceeded to drive several cars around the lot, intentionally crashing them into other vehicles in “what must have appeared to be a demolition derby,” the sheriff’s office said.
A total of 31 cars and trucks were damaged during the vandalism and the damages are estimated at more than $225,000. Some of the vehicles were damaged beyond repair.
"We just feel bad for the owners of all these vehicles and, of course, the business owner," Weber County Sheriff's Lt. Lane Findlay said. "To see the extensive damage that was caused, it just makes you sick."
A few of the vehicles damaged in the rampage belonged to the shop's owner, but most of them had been brought in by customers for body work, the sheriff's office said. Some of the vehicles had already been repaired and just needed to be picked up.
A few of the juveniles returned to the auto body yard Friday “for a second heat,” but were detained by an employee, the sheriff’s office said. The remaining juveniles also returned to the auto body yard around 2 a.m., driving a stolen vehicle. A citizen called police to report a “suspicious car in the area” and officers stopped the juveniles when they attempted to flee in the vehicle.
"We think that what happened is that they probably went back bragging to their friends, talking about what had happened, and then proceeded to try to come back and do the same thing again," Findlay said. "Fortunately they were apprehended before they could really do any more damage."
Investigators said the six juveniles were all between 14 and 16 years of age and were taken into custody in connection with trespassing, criminal mischief and vehicle burglary. The teens have all since been released to their parents.
The teens are not believed to have any connection to the auto body shop. The owners declined to comment about the incident.
Contributing: McKenzie Romero, Nicole Gonzales
