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WEST VALLEY CITY -- Several teenagers face charges for allegedly stealing cars in West Valley City.
Seven teens, ages 14 to 18, were taken into custody Wednesday morning. Three of them have been arrested for either vehicle theft or possession of a stolen vehicle.
Shortly after midnight West Valley police received a call about a stolen Honda Accord. About an hour later they got a similar call. An officer spotted the first car near the Tuscany Cove Apartments at 3856 W. 3500 South. Officers surrounded the vehicle and took three teens into custody.
Police believe a second group of teens saw their friends being arrested so they dumped the Honda they were in a few blocks away at 3100 South and 2700 West. But police caught up to them.
Lt. Kent Stokes said, "They were all interconnected by cell phones, and that's how we were able to trace them and locate the others."
Investigators questioned the teens then took two of them to juvenile detention. One, 18-year-old Jesus Ortiz, was taken to the Salt Lake County Jail. The other four teens were released because there wasn't enough evidence to prove they were directly involved in the thefts.
Police received information that the group may have stolen three more Hondas - one white, one black and one teal. Investigators now are looking for those cars.
Lt. Stokes said several late-90s model Honda Accords have been stolen in the Salt Lake Valley recently. He warns owners of that type of car to make sure their vehicle is locked.
Written with contributions from Shara Park and Andrew Adams.
