QUINCY, ILL. -- Update: Wednesday, January 5, 2010, 5:00 p.m.
It turned out to be a close call for a Quincy man who's vehicle was stolen early Tuesday. He had left the vehicle running in his driveway while he jotted inside to pick up something. His 5-year-old nephew was in the backseat. Thankfully, no one was hurt.
Quincy police ended up arresting three teenagers for that theft and another one. Police say the latter theft happened when a vehicle was left running in the driveway of a residence on Country Club Drive South. That one was found abandoned near 30th and Broadway.
Three 16-year-old male juveniles were located in the area and arrested.
Officers say those teenagers also stole another vehicle left running in the driveway of Car Dealer Dene Lambkin's home, near 27th and Monroe.
He shared his story in hopes of helping you in this KHQA Safe Family Crime Report.
"I was on my way to take my nephew to St. Peter's. It was before 8 o'clock. We'd forgotten his book bag. It was show and tell day, so you can imagine for a 5-year-old, it was pretty important. So we turned around at the top of the block and we came back. That's where I made my mistake, when I pulled up to the garage, went immediately inside to his room and came back out," said Lambkin.
Lambkin saw his truck in the street. He immediately thought he'd forgotten to hit the breaks and that it had rolled back into the street. Thankfully his nephew, Eli, still was safe in the backseat.
"I apologized to Eli, because I didn't get it parked and he said, 'No Uncle Dean, two kids got in and tried to take your car.'"
Lambkin says his nephew did not know the boys. But Lambkin says he recognized them walking down the street toward his home moments before the theft.
"Once they left, they went to another vehicle, and they stole that vehicle which was in the same condition, running and unlocked. The owner was warming it up. They took that car for a joyride, parked it in a parking lot on Broadway and were apprehended by police when walking away," said Quincy Detective Gabe VanderBol.
"It's certainly unfortunate. And it's my fault for leaving him in there alone. I was just glad nothing happened to him," said Lambkin.
The Quincy Police Department says it's seen an increase in attempted thefts with running cars. Detective VanderBol says if you're going to leave it running unattended, make sure you have two sets of keys or a remote car starter.
Update: Wednesday, January 5, 2010, 3:00 p.m.
Three teenagers were arrested for stealing vehicles Tuesday morning, one of which had a 5-year-old child in the back seat.
Quincy police say Brad Kirlin left the first car running in the driveway of his residence on Country Club Drive South.
His vehicle was found abandoned near 30th and Broadway.
Three 16-year-old male juveniles were located in the area and arrested.
Police think they're also responsible for stealing another vehicle left running by Dene Lambkin in the driveway at his residence near 27th and Monroe.
That vehicle had Dene Lambkin's 5-year-old nephew Eli in the back seat and was abandoned immediately by the suspects.
KHQA's Brooke Hasch will bring you more details following her interview with Dene Lambkin, so check this story a little later and watch KHQA's News at Five, KHQA's Evening News at 6 p.m. and KHQA's Late News at 10 p.m.
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