Stolen Jeep Crashes, 14-Year-Old Arrested: Tinley Police

TINLEY PARK, IL — A group of masked suspects fled police and a 14-year-old was arrested after a stolen Jeep crashed into a mailbox early Friday, Tinley Park Police said.

Officers responded just after 6 a.m. after a resident reported that a white Ford Explorer was stopped in front of her home and a male suspect was pulling on the door handles of vehicles parked in the driveway in the 8100 block of 174th Place.

When officers arrived, they found the Ford Explorer and a red Jeep Cherokee stopped in the road in the 8000 block of Apache Trail. Police said both vehicles were occupied by suspects dressed in black and wearing face masks.

As officers approached, both vehicles fled, heading south on 80th Avenue. Police said officers tried to initiate a traffic stop, but both vehicles continued south.

At the intersection of 183rd Street and 80th, the white Ford Explorer turned east and the Jeep Cherokee continued south.

According to police, officers lost contact with the Ford Explorer, but were able to maintain visual contact with the red Jeep.

Moments later, police said, the Jeep turned into a residential subdivision, lost control and crashed into a mailbox before coming to rest in a nearby yard. Police determined that the Jeep Cherokee had recently been stolen from the 8800 block of Woodbine Court, according to officials.

The driver fled on foot. After a foot pursuit, police said Tinley Park officers were able to take a 14-year-old juvenile into custody. The teen was taken to the police station and charged with possession of a stolen motor vehicle be before he was turned over to his parents.

Additional charges are pending review from the Will County State's Attorney's Office.

After the teen was apprehended, officers set up a perimeter and a drone was deployed, but no other suspects were found.