GPS bracelets lead to arrests of 2 chronic car thieves

Twochronic Winnipeg car thieves were arrested Monday after a series of residential break-and-enters and a police pursuit of a stolen vehicle.

Police located thesuspectsvia theGPSmonitoring braceletsthey were wearingas part of the Winnipeg auto theft suppression strategy. Youths with multiple car-theft convictions, who have been deemed at the highest risk of reoffending, are ordered towear the ankle bracelets.

A17-year-old youth and 19-year-oldhave beencharged with numerous offences involvingtheft, mischief, break and enter, and weapons.

According to police,a newer model Chevrolet Suburban was stolensometime before 8 p.m.from a shopping centre in the 1300 block of McPhillips Street., police said.

The suspects then allegedly drove toa homein the 100 block of Ambleside Boulevard and broke in just after 8 p.m. About 20 minutes later, they drove to another residence in the 100 block of Newbury Crescent and broke into it as well.

Nothing was stolen from either residence, police said.

Second vehicle stolen

But at 8:30 p.m., a residence in the 100 block of Great Elm Cove was broken into and a newer model Ford Fusion was stolen from the garage. The suspects then fled in that vehicle, leaving the other one behind.

Members of the police service's stolen auto unit quickly determined the suspects weretwo individuals classified as Level 4 offenders under the Winnipeg Auto Theft Suppression Strategy.

With the assistance of Manitoba Probation Services' electronic monitoring staff, the suspects' whereabouts were tracked by GPS to the city's South Tuxedo area, police said.

Officers located the suspects in the vehicle at 8:50 p.m. in the area of Holland Boulevard and Grant Avenue and attempted to stop them. The suspects sped off and officers chased themfor a short time but called it offdue to public safety concerns as the suspects' car reached speeds in excess of 100 km/h.

The vehicle was then spotted again at 9:25 p.m. in the area of Headmaster Row and Dalgleish Bay in the city's East Kildonan area. A second pursuit began when thesuspectsrefused to stop, police said.

Pursuit ends in crash

Thecar driven by the suspects thencollided with another vehicle on Henderson Highway. No one was injured in the collision, police said.

After the crash, thedriver of the stolen vehicle tried to keep going but lost control at Henderson Highway and Chalmers Avenue.Police thenarrestedthe two suspects, who hadtried removing their GPS bracelets in an attempt to evade tracking of their location.

Both suspects have been detained in police custody.