The Monroe County Sheriff's Office says six teenagers were arrested after a string of car thefts Monday night in the Pittsford area.
MCSO investigators shared a map of seven locations where they say vehicles were either stolen or broken into, starting at St. John Fisher University to near Powder Mills Park.
It all began around 11:20 p.m. when deputies say they spotted a red Kia Sportage leaving the Fisher parking lot. They say it had damage consistent with a vehicle that had been stolen. Deputies say the vehicle drove through several lawns to get away from them.
Authorities say throughout the "chaotic night" the teens would be involved in incidents on Kurt Road, Hunters Run, Kendon Road, Concord Drive and East Street. They say the teens also went through a car on Brickston Drive, from which they allegedly stole a purse.
Deputies say the chaos came to an end when a white Toyota Sienna minivan slammed into a tree on East Jefferson Road, which prevented it from splashing into the Erie Canal.
According to the sheriff's office, five teens were taken into custody at the scene of the crash with a sixth being located thanks to the use of a K9 unit. The driver of the van is reported by deputies to be a repeat offender.
"Our deputies, investigators and supervisors come together as a unified team to handle chaos, even if it means risking their own safety, and I could not be more proud of the work they did Friday night," said Sheriff Todd Baxter. "For crime victims, this is beyond inconvenience, as they have to repair or replace their stolen cars and property, costing time and money. I am renewing the community's call for lawmakers to pass clean law on what can be done with dangerous criminals and repeat offenders."
In addition to the Kia Sportage and Toyota Sienna, investigators say the incidents also involved two Hyundai Elantras and a Hyundai Sonata.
The teens range in age from 14 to 16 and are all charged with third-degree unauthorized use of a vehicle, a misdemeanor, deputies say. They were taken to the hospital to be evaluated and released with appearance tickets.