Woman helps police track down stolen cars; teens arrested

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Police say they have stopped a pair of teenage car thieves who stole five vehicles in two days.

Neno Ceaser, 19, and a 15-year-old were arrested Tuesday after members of the Auto Theft Task Force discovered the stolen automobiles in the backyard of a vacant house in South Memphis.

Police said one of the victims was able to track her stolen 2017 Kia Optima to the address and told them she saw the 15-year-old walking around her apartment complex the day her car was taken.

Neighbors told WREG the house on Kerr had been vacant for about a week.

Investigators said a Hyundai Sonata and Hyundai Elantra found at the house were stolen from the driveway of a Cordova home just hours earlier.

The 76-year-old owner didn’t want to be identified but said he didn’t even know the vehicles were missing until deputies showed up at his door.

“It’s the second time. They tried to snatch them six months ago, but they didn’t get them out because they locked the steering up and couldn’t drive them,” he said.

The victim said he was relieved police located his cars so quickly but had no idea what kind of condition the vehicles were in since they were towed to the city impound lot.

“If they are not driveable, they will be nothing but a headache to take care of. We’ll do whatever we have to,” he said.

Ceaser was charged with several counts of theft of property, vandalism, possession of burglary tools, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

A 15-year-old was also charged with theft, vandalism, and possession of burglary tools.

Investigators have not said if they are looking for any additional suspects.

Ceaser is being held on a $10,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on Thursday,

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