PACIFIC, Wis. (WFRV) – A 16-year-old Wisconsin resident was arrested early Monday morning after allegedly stealing a vehicle and entering several others.
According to the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, a resident on Patchin Road in the Town of Pacific reported their vehicle stolen from their driveway shortly after 4:45 a.m.
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Less than 20 minutes later, a Portage police officer located the stolen vehicle on the north side of the city. When the officer attempted to follow it, the vehicle fled.
Authorities say the vehicle was found shortly after in the parking lot of Portage Ford, where it had reportedly struck two parked cars. The suspect fled on foot into a nearby wooded area.
Multiple deputies, police officers, and state troopers responded to assist in the search. A thermal drone was deployed to locate the suspect in the wooded, marshy terrain.
While searching, deputies received additional reports from Patchin Road residents that their vehicles had been entered and items were missing.
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Around 8 a.m., a Portage police officer saw the suspect emerge from a wood line near Gunderson Drive and Red Fox Run. The suspect was taken into custody without incident.
The 16-year-old was turned over to juvenile authorities and faces multiple charges:
- Operating a motor vehicle without the owner’s consent
- Possession of burglarious tools
- Possession of THC
- Theft
- Resisting and obstructing an officer
The investigation is ongoing, and additional charges may be filed as more reports come in.
“Vehicle theft and theft of valuables are usually crimes of opportunity,” said Columbia County Sheriff’s Capt. David Clark. “Thieves will check car doors until they find an unlocked vehicle and steal whatever is valuable inside.”
To help prevent theft, authorities recommend:
- Locking vehicle doors, even in driveways or garages
- Not leaving valuables inside vehicles
- Not leaving keys or key fobs inside vehicles
No additional details were provided.
