Nearly 500 felony arrests for juvenile auto theft, more than one arrest per day. Nearly two-thirds of all auto arrests for kid under the age of 18. Even if they're caught, most kids spend just hours in detention. Those are the findings of a data-driven investigation by the Tampa Bay Times into what's being called an "epidemic" of car thefts in Pinellas County.
In this encore episode of Gulf Coast Live, Tampa Bay Times reporters Lisa Gartner and Zachary Sampson share their two-part series "Hot Wheels," describing how kids as young as 10 are behind the surge in auto thefts, the outdated laws that officers and parents say pose a threat to public safety, and the additional sheriff's deputies, equipment, time, and resources being spent to combat the growing trend.