'Missing' Teens Stole Grandfather's BMW: Des Plaines PD

DES PLAINES, IL — A 14-year-old is facing a felony charge after he and his brother, who had been reported missing, stole their grandfather's BMW and placed a stolen license plate on the car. The teenager was charged with felony possessing and displaying a known stolen vehicle registration and one misdemeanor count of theft.

Police said he was given a court date and released to family.

At 9:41 a.m. Saturday, police were called to the 1200 block of Center Street for a report of missing juveniles. Police learned that two brothers had taken their grandfather's white four-door BMW without permission overnight.

During the subsequent investigation, police were able to track the juveniles' cell phones, which placed them at Gurnee Mills mall in Gurnee. Police there were contacted and were able to track the vehicle with a FLOCK camera as it was leaving their jurisdiction southbound on Interstate 94. Gurnee police relayed to Des Plaines officers that the BMW was bearing an Illinois registration that had been reported in a Feb. 1 theft from a parking lot in the 1300 block of Lee Street in Des Plaines.

Des Plaines police put out a statewide message with the vehicle information. At 4:23 pm., Vernon Hills police said they had located the car, pulled it over and had the occupants in custody. Four male teens were in the car — a 14-year-old male, who was driving, along with a 15-year-old, 14-year-0ld and 13-year-old. The 14-year-old driver and 13-year-old passenger are brothers and were the ones that had been reported missing.

The four were taken back to the Des Plaines Police Department. The other two teens were friends of the brothers and were released to their respective guardians without charges. The teens had admitted to police the 14-year-old has stolen the license plate and had planned to take their grandfather's BMW to a friend's house to spend the night. The teen had stolen the license plate to place on the BMW, which did not have a plate, according to police.

The 13-year-old juvenile was also released to a family member and is not facing any charges.