A 14-year-old young man from Festus suspected of stealing and abandoning two cars has been arrested. The teen allegedly stole one car in Festus and later drove it a Fenton-area gas station, where he abandoned it and stole another car, authorities report.
At 1 a.m. July 11, the teen allegedly drove a 1990 Toyota Camry stolen in Festus to the QT in the 2600 block of Hwy. 141 in the Jefferson County portion of Fenton and left it there, before stealing a red 2011 Ford Focus that the victim left unlocked and with the keys inside and the engine running while he was inside the convenience store, the Sheriff’s Office reported.
The Focus was found the next day in St. Louis and appeared to be undamaged and drivable, said Cpl. Matthew Moore of the Sheriff’s Office.
Festus Police Chief Tim Lewis said he didn’t know exactly when and where the Camry had been stolen because the people who authorities believe own it have been out of town.
The Sheriff’s Office identified the teen as the suspect July 14, and he was arrested that same day in St. Louis County. The case has been turned over to juvenile authorities, Moore said.
-- Kim Robertson