Excelsior Springs, Mo. – Despite charges against a teenage suspect linked to a spree of Hyundai and Kia thefts, the crime wave has continued, with at least two more stolen vehicles reported in the past week and others suspected. The Excelsior Springs Police Department (ESPD) confirms that the same individual is believed to be responsible, as authorities await a decision from the Clay County Juvenile Court regarding the suspect’s fate.
Lt. Ryan Dowdy explained how they’ve connected the new thefts to the same teenager, citing his modus operandi—a distinct pattern of committing crimes. “It’s the type of cars he’s stealing, where he’s taking them from, how he steals them, and where he leaves them,” Dowdy said.
In a troubling escalation, reports indicate the suspect has now begun stealing vehicles from Wood Heights, where he has been staying with a relative. Allegedly, the teen has begun stealing cars in Wood Heights, driving them into other areas, abandoning them, and then stealing a different car to drive back to Wood Heights before abandoning them within walking distance to his relative’s home.
This past week, a Land Rover was taken from a Wood Heights driveway and later found abandoned along the street in Excelsior Springs, where a 2018 Hyundai had been stolen. The Hyundai was found near the teen’s relative’s home in Wood Heights the next day.
During last month’s crime spree, the juvenile accumulated six felonies for car theft, vandalism, and theft of items from cars, including a firearm. The firearm had been sold to another juvenile and was later recovered. Bullet casings found in the teen’s room last month have been tied to the stolen firearm through forensic testing. Investigators used the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) to match the firearm with the casings, identifying a unique indentation left by the gun’s striker on the primer.
With all the evidence presented and an admittance of guilt, the Clay County Juvenile Office has yet to determine what corrective action to take against the suspect. “These cases have to go through the system, and with a juvenile, they’re just not as quick to put them in jail,” Dowdy said. Officials are likely weighing options, including probation or detention, but no final decision has been made. Data from Missouri Courts shows that 65.1% of juveniles on probation reoffend within the first six months, while 34.2% reoffend in the following six months.
Meanwhile, community frustration continues as victims share their experiences and financial losses on social media. Some residents report thousands of dollars in damages due to the reckless manner in which the vehicles are stolen and abandoned.
As the juvenile system works to address the situation, Lt. Dowdy urges residents to remain vigilant and take extra precautions, especially those who own Hyundais or Kias, which the teen has been targeting most often due to their known security vulnerabilities. Residents are also highly encouraged to report suspicious activity, share security footage, and file official police reports if their cars are vandalized or stolen.
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