Teen steals car to use as getaway vehicle in Visalia burglary

VISALIA, Calif. ( KSEE/KGPE ) – A teenager was arrested after allegedly using a car he stole as a getaway vehicle for a burglary in Visalia, police say.

According to officers, a 16-year-old boy stole several bottles of liquor from BevMo! early Thursday morning before leaving the scene in a stolen white Hyundai Sonata.

When officers arrived at the store around 4 a.m. on Thursday, they say they found the front glass door smashed and several dozen bottles of liquor missing. Surveillance footage revealed that three males in a white Hyundai broke in and stole the liquor.

About an hour later, officers say they were dispatched to a car matching the description of the getaway vehicle near Court Street and Paradise Avenue. There, they found the 16-year-old suspect.

Upon investigation, officers discovered that the teenager had stolen the Hyundai and used it in the burglary. Several bottles of liquor were later recovered from his residence and returned to the store.

The investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Julie Peterson at 559-713-4101 or call anonymously at 559-713-4738.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com | CBS47 and KSEE24.