APD auto theft detectives apprehended two teenagers, a boyfriend and girlfriend, for reportedly involving their younger siblings in a joyride after stealing a city-owned bait car on Saturday.
The detectives identified and detained the 14-year-old boy and 15-year-old girl on multiple felony charges, including contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Additionally, APD identified a 13-year-old female, a 11-year-old boy, and a 5-year-old boy who were subsequently released to their parents. The incident was reported to CYFD.
Around 5:00 PM on Saturday, APD detectives received a report that a red Kia, a city-owned bait car, was stolen from the vicinity of 3847 Montgomery Blvd. N.E. Three of the children unlawfully entered the vehicle, with the 14-year-old manipulating the ignition with the assistance of the 13-year-old to start it. The 13-year-old and 11-year-old were observed instructing the 15-year-old on shifting the car into reverse and operating the brake pedal, after which they departed.
Subsequently, the 14-year-old boy drove and picked up his girlfriend, who entered the car accompanied by the boy’s 5-year-old brother.
APD Detectives exercised additional caution upon learning of the presence of the young child inside the stolen vehicle they were trailing. They allowed the teenage driver to move the car to a safe area, and then they remotely disabled the bait car near Montgomery Blvd and Morningside Dr. NE.
Instead of initiating a foot pursuit, detectives discreetly monitored the children as they walked to an apartment complex north of Montgomery Blvd. The detectives subsequently formulated a plan to approach the complex. They then reached out to the mother of the 14-year-old boy while informing the parents of the other children, who subsequently arrived at the apartment complex.
It should be noted that APD’s civilian PIO, Gilbert Gallegos, initially indicated to the media that the 13-year-old female was a 12-year-old boy and that the 11-year-old boy was a 10-year-old girl. We mention this because accuracy in providing ages, dates of birth, and other pertinent facts does matter, as media outlets rely on the information APD disseminates.
Story Continues Below with an Update from APD
On Monday, March 25th, 2024, the Albuquerque Police Department issued a community alert regarding a troubling social media trend following a recent incident of a bait car theft involving minors.
During interviews with APD detectives, the 14-year-old teenager confessed to learning about car thefts, specifically Kia vehicles, through Instagram and the “Kia Boyz” trend.
This social media trend gained popularity when a group of teenagers, known as the “Kia Boyz”, discovered that certain Kia and Hyundai models are easily stolen. They began documenting these thefts on platforms like TikTok and Instagram. Similar trends have been observed in other parts of the country, with youths emulating the behavior to demonstrate its feasibility.
“Social media serves as a double-edged sword; it can be a valuable tool for information sharing but can also facilitate engagement in dangerous activities,” stated Chief Harold Medina. “Fortunately, no one was harmed in this incident, but it serves as a stark reminder for parents to monitor their children’s online activities.”
APD is also in the process of planning the purchase of wheel locks for vehicle owners as an additional measure to deter auto theft. These devices will be distributed at Auto Theft VIN etching events held throughout the city.
The 14-year-old shown in the video below admits to learning how to use a screwdriver to “pop” the ignition, gaining access to specific cars through social media platforms.
Today at 2:44 PM, in the first updated email we received from APD’s Deputy Director of Communications and Marketing, Rebecca Atkins, she stated:
“While Auto Theft detectives monitored the juveniles’ activity in the car from hidden cameras, a 15-year-old male used a screwdriver to breach the ignition and turn the vehicle on.”
Further into the email, Atkins went on to say:
“Upon interviews, one of the teens, aged 15, admitted to learning through Instagram and via the ‘Kia Boyz’ trend how to steal the vehicle, which was a Kia.”
The issue with these statements is that the male involved was 14-years-old, not 15. Again, we return to the importance of reporting the facts accurately; it matters.
About an hour after we received the email from Atkins, Gallegos sent out an email which said:
For clarification, here are the ages of each of the individuals who were in the bait car on Saturday:
Arrested:
Male Juvenile: DOB July 2009 (14)
Female Juvenile: DOB March 2009 (15)
Involved:
Female Juvenile: DOB August 2010 (13)
Male Juvenile: DOB May 2012 (11)
Male Juvenile: DOB September 2018 (5)
It’s what homies do!!!!! They were released to their clueless baby makin’ mamas almost immediately!!!! All under 18, so it’s just for laughs……….. Even if they kill someone, which they eventually will, it won’t matter………… Gomer and Dreamy Timmy and the loser 2 Judicial District judges will make them out to be the true victims. Guaranteed!!!!
The city should issue permits for Better citizens to hunt down verminous filth like these little beaner thugs.
Juveniles should be charged and sentenced as adults.
“Bait cars” are supposed to watched very carefully, to catch any thieves. Who was in charge of this “Bait car” operation when it was stolen by children? Why was it not disabled immediately, remotely when stolen? It is fortunate these children did not kill anyone, with a “Bait car” loose on our streets.
Why was it not disabled immediately? Because a) you want the vehicle off city streets and out of traffic when the engine stops and b) you want to be able to catch the perps right after that happens.
No Free Bait cars should be allowed to be driven by children for some time picking up more, while on any street. cameras inside vehicles do show faces, so children driving necessitates immediate stopping. These children will not be put in Prison for car theft, a waste of money, time, and a risk to anyone hit by this Vehicle owned by the Police. Look at no accountability for the Chief of Police racing around and severely injuring a man, and probably no Drug or Alcohol test for him. Anyone else would be treated differently, these children will not be Punished. The vehicle was in traffic for some time.
No, it wasn’t “in traffic for some time.” The little vato shitstains did do a bit of driving but, as stated in this article, the car was disabled about 1,000′ from where it was stolen. I’d be surprised if they drove more than two or three miles.
Allow yourself to consider the possibility that, more often than not, APD officers actually know what they’re doing. The little thugs were all arrested and no harm done. This isn’t the same as that cowardly piece of shit Medina nearly killing an innocent.