Two juveniles arrested in Redlands Kia theft investigation; police recover ammunition

REDLANDS, Calif. — Redlands police arrested two juveniles this week following the theft of a rented Kia Soul, including a 13-year-old boy already on probation for prior vehicle thefts, according to the Redlands Police Department.

The Kia Soul was reported stolen from the 1500 block of Alta Street and was later located early Tuesday, May 12, with the help of GPS tracking, police said.

Investigators determined the 13-year-old suspect had allegedly been inside the stolen vehicle and used location data from both the vehicle and the teen’s ankle monitor to trace the same route, according to police.

During a search of the teen’s home, officers said they found evidence linking him to the Kia theft as well as another stolen vehicle case. Police also arrested a 15-year-old found inside the residence after reportedly discovering thousands of rounds of ammunition and several high-capacity AR magazines.

Both juveniles were taken into custody.

The arrests were among several incidents highlighted in the department’s weekly public safety update covering May 7-14.

In another case, Redlands police are investigating after three vehicles were reportedly broken into and ransacked overnight between May 12 and May 13 near Cero Court and Central Avenue. A set of golf clubs was reported stolen.

On May 10, officers responded after a man sorting through the belongings of a deceased family member discovered what appeared to be a hand grenade. The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department Bomb Squad determined the device was a live grenade and took possession of it for destruction, police said.

Police also recovered a stolen Nissan Pathfinder on May 8 after an Automated License Plate Recognition camera near Citrus Plaza detected the vehicle, according to the department.

An officer stopped the SUV and found two occupants inside. Police said the passenger initially provided a false name and was later found to have an outstanding felony warrant from Riverside County. He was arrested.

The driver was transported to a hospital for treatment of what police described as extensive medical issues. Investigators forwarded charges related to possession of a stolen vehicle to the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office.

Anyone with information about crimes or suspicious activity can contact Redlands Police Dispatch at (909) 798-7681 ext. 1. Certain non-emergency crimes may also be reported online through the city of Redlands reporting system or the city’s 311 mobile app.