A Kia vehicle is shown in this undated photo. Redlands police are investigating a surge in thefts targeting Kias and Hyundais. (Photo credit: Wirestock)
REDLANDS, Calif. — A 15-year-old was arrested early Thursday after leading Redlands police on a high-speed pursuit in a vehicle believed to be stolen, as the city sees a spike in thefts targeting Kias and Hyundais.
Officers responded shortly after midnight March 26 to reports of two vehicles driving recklessly in a parking lot in the 2000 block of Bergamot Street. Both vehicles fled as police arrived, and officers pursued one of them — a 2019 Kia — through city streets at high speed.
The vehicle eventually became disabled and pulled over. Police said the ignition had been punched, a common sign of vehicle theft, though officers have not yet been able to contact the registered owner to confirm the vehicle was stolen.
The driver, a 15-year-old, had previously been arrested in separate cases involving reckless driving and vehicle theft, according to police.
The incident comes amid a broader increase in vehicle thefts across Redlands. Police reported more than a dozen vehicles — primarily Kias and Hyundais — stolen or targeted in attempted thefts over the past week. Several of the stolen vehicles were later recovered in areas where additional thefts had been reported.
In a separate case earlier in the week, officers located a stolen 2018 Kia Optima near Stillman Avenue and Jeremy Court on March 24. When officers attempted a traffic stop, the driver fled, leading police on a pursuit through city streets and onto westbound Interstate 10.
The California Highway Patrol joined the pursuit near the Interstate 215 interchange, at which point Redlands police disengaged. CHP continued the chase into San Bernardino, where four occupants fled on foot. The driver and one passenger were taken into custody.
