COLUMBUS, Ohio — Three teenagers were arrested in a police operation Friday aimed at catching suspected car thieves operating near the Ohio State University's main campus.
The Columbus Division of Police and the Ohio State Highway Patrol teamed up for the operation in the University District.
Troopers and officers used a vehicle to "bait" suspected car thieves.
According to Columbus police, three teens were arrested and one gun was recovered between the hours of 4 p.m. and 10 p.m. during the operation on Dec. 3.
The bait car was left twice in the area of East 9th Avenue and North High Street, twice near North High Street and East 17th Avenue, and once near the intersection of North High Street and East 18th Avenue.
Police said a 17-year-old suspect stole the vehicle left at North High Street just south of and East 17th Avenue. The car was left at the location at 5:30 p.m. and stolen at 5:40 p.m., according to police.
Police said the suspect in that theft was arrested and charged with theft of a motor vehicle and carrying a concealed weapon.
“It's almost like they are waiting for them to show up and they will take them, and I'm glad it was ours,” said Columbus Police Lieutenant Pettengill.
Two 15-year-olds were arrested and charged with theft of a motor vehicle for stealing the bait car left near North High Street and East 18th Avenue.
“Juveniles have been a big problem all around the city and not just at OSU. Not surprising at all,” Pettengill said. “The lack of consequences or the fear of nothing happening to them is what allows them to continue to do this no matter how many times we catch them."
There have been 5,705 stolen in Columbus in the last 12 months. Nearly 500 of them have happened in the last 30 days.
More than 40 of those 500 thefts occurred in the fourth precinct, near Ohio State's campus. That's also the area where law enforcement set up the sting.