ASHLAND — Ashland police charged two teens for their involvement in a string of vehicle thefts.
The 16-year-old and 14-year-old, both males from Ashland, allegedly stole eight vehicles (seven cars and one truck), an ATV and two bicycles throughout the month of September.
In two of those thefts, the teens broke into a barn and a detached garage, police said. The teens also stole an i-Pad from one of the vehicles.
All the stolen property, including the cars, the truck, the ATV, bicycles and the i-Pad, were recovered, said APD Lieutenant detective Curt Dorsey.
Two of those vehicles were stolen outside of the city limits, so the Ashland County Sheriff’s Office assisted in those cases, Ashland police said.
“With keen attention to detail, Officer Adam Wolbert noticed two stolen bicycles tucked behind a residence, leading to further investigation and ultimately identifying two suspects,” reads a press release issued by Ashland police on Friday.
Dorsey said police received a single report of a stolen vehicle in May, but the report did not lead to any charges.
The teens, who Dorsey said are being held at a juvenile detention center in Mansfield, have been charged with unauthorized use of a vehicle. He said the Ashland County Prosecutor’s Office is reviewing the cases for potential additional charges.
Ashland County Prosecutor Chris Tunnell said he still needs to give the cases a thorough review, but that additional charges might include those related to theft and breaking and entering.
At age 16, juvenile cases are eligible to be bound over — meaning they could be charged as adults — but typically that only involves cases where violence factored into the offense, Tunnell said.
“That also depends on their past conduct and prior delinquency adjudications,” he said.
Violence was not a factor in the alleged crimes, Dorsey said.