(From the Joplin Police Department)Since August of 2026, the Joplin Police Department has been responding to an alarming number of vehicle thefts and thefts from vehicles. Joplin Police Officers and Detectives discovered that the majority of these reports involved Kia and Hyundai vehicles that hadm been manufactured between the years of 2005-2018.
Since the start of the reports, the Joplin Police Department has responded to 20 motor vehicle thefts and 22 thefts from vehicles involving the above-mentioned model vehicles since mid-August.
Noticing this was a trending crime, the Joplin Police Department began a more thorough review.
The Joplin Police Department Flex Platoon was assigned to investigate these thefts.
During this investigation, primary suspects were developed and identified. The suspects were found to be juveniles who live in Joplin. Flex Detectives further learned that the juveniles had stolen firearms left in unoccupied vehicles they had broken into.
Evidence was obtained that suggested that the firearms were recklessly used and discharged by the juveniles during the commission of those crimes. No injuries were reported because of the gunfire.
In late September of 2026, Joplin Patrol Officers located and arrested three juveniles in two separate incidents involving stolen vehicles. In one of the incidents, a stolen vehicle was occupied by two juvenile suspects.
In late September of 2026, Joplin Patrol Officers located and arrested three juveniles in two separate incidents involving stolen vehicles. In one of the incidents, a stolen vehicle was occupied by two juvenile suspects.
When officers attempted to stop the stolen vehicle, it fled resulting in the stolen vehicle crashing into a parked car near the intersection of 8th and Grand. Both juveniles then fled the scene on foot and were taken into custody a short distance away.
In the second incident, a stolen vehicle was stopped for traffic violations near 7th Street and Geneva, the juvenile driver was taken into custody without incident.Police Department Flex Detectives continued to work closely with patrol officers during the ongoing investigation.
As additional evidence and information were acquired, detectives were able to obtain three search warrants for residences believed to be involved with these vehicle thefts.
On October 1, 2026, the Joplin officers and Investigators served these search warrants.
When the search warrants were served, two stolen firearms were recovered along with ammunition. Marijuana, drug paraphernalia, tools used to break into vehicles, and miscellaneous vehicle ignition parts were located during the searches.
Additionally, a 2016 Kia Soul that had been stolen the night before was also recovered at one of the
residences. As a result of this investigation, a total of five juveniles with age ranges from thirteen to sixteen have been taken into custody in conjunction with the reported thefts and were transported to the Jasper County Juvenile Detention Center. Charges for 2nd Degree Burglary and stealing were submitted to the Jasper County Juvenile Prosecutor. Additional charges may be considered as the investigation continues.
Nineteen of the twenty vehicles stolen during the time frame have been recovered.
The Joplin Police Department wants to thank the Jasper County Juvenile Office for their continued partnership with helping make the Joplin community safer.
To help reduce the chances of being a victim, the Joplin Police Department wants to remind citizens to securely lock and remove all loose items from parked vehicles, especially firearms. Additionally, if you have a Kia or Hyundai vehicle that was manufactured during the years 2005-2018, it is also recommended that a steering wheel locking mechanism be utilized when the vehicle remains unattended.
residences. As a result of this investigation, a total of five juveniles with age ranges from thirteen to sixteen have been taken into custody in conjunction with the reported thefts and were transported to the Jasper County Juvenile Detention Center. Charges for 2nd Degree Burglary and stealing were submitted to the Jasper County Juvenile Prosecutor. Additional charges may be considered as the investigation continues.
Nineteen of the twenty vehicles stolen during the time frame have been recovered.
The Joplin Police Department wants to thank the Jasper County Juvenile Office for their continued partnership with helping make the Joplin community safer.
To help reduce the chances of being a victim, the Joplin Police Department wants to remind citizens to securely lock and remove all loose items from parked vehicles, especially firearms. Additionally, if you have a Kia or Hyundai vehicle that was manufactured during the years 2005-2018, it is also recommended that a steering wheel locking mechanism be utilized when the vehicle remains unattended.
12 comments:
Five kids, between the ages of 13 and 16, were arrested for stealing cars and possession of drugs and guns. All of this in roughly a two month period? Where in the hell are the parents?????? Did not ONE parent notice any strange vehicle parked at the home and wonder why it was there? I can only hope our limp judicial system does its job and teaches them all a lesson.
Where are these kids parents?
The parents were proibably working two jobs to pay for expensive gasoline and groceries! And don't even get me started on the insanely expensive rents the skumlords are charging everyone!
Of course, because they are juveniles that will receive a slap on the wrist for their crimes when they all should go to jail - yet they get to hide under the vail of under 18, being juveniles and we cannot report whether or not they are white or black, etc., male or female because then we would all be called racist or nazis or whatever because we have to be politically correct and not hurt somebodies thin skin! They should all have their mug shots and information posted just like any criminal - You want to do adult crimes - then you should be expected to pay for your crimes just like an adult!
6 7 am I right fellow kids?
6:07AM, there are lot of people that are living paycheck to paycheck and working two or more jobs that their kids aren't out roaming the streets breaking in and stealing cars and stealing firearms with ammunition, marijuana, drug paraphernalia, tools used to break into vehicles, and miscellaneous vehicle ignition parts. Let's see their mugshots that will probably tell the whole story very quickly - 1-parent homes, etc., etc.,
The Trump administration created a war that people in Missouri are paying for at the grocery store and the gas pump. We're in a situation where we could have chosen peace and instead we chose war.
If you’ve been to a recreational league youth sports event, you see that many many folks are insufficiently equipped to deal with life, and these are among the folks that care enough to bring their child to organized sports. It can’t be helped, but there’s a lot of it about.
How do tell all this from a mugshot?
Do you judge people based on what they look like?
OMG-8:22AM, Spoken like another Leftist Liberal, LWNJ! And when Obama and Biden was in office - Chicago, Kansas City, and St. Louis - where known as the Murder Capitals of America. All of those towns have Democratic Mayors and even Illinois has a Democratic Governor - what does that say - that the Majority of the Top 15-Criminal Cities in the Nation are ran by Democrats and Democratic Constitutes that want to turn a blind eye to the Truth - So Stop Blaming Republicans, when 13% of the Population Commit 28% of the General Crimes and 58% of the Violent Crimes. Yet we cannot talk about that because Democrats will cause us all Racist or Nazis - and blow off the Truth. And had the Democrats did something about IRAN - Carter, Clinton, Obama, or Biden - Instead of letting they continue to Kill and push their Hate and Violence Doctrine around the World for Decades - We wouldn't be facing these issues today - Democrats are always good about Blaming Others and then putting their Heads in the Sand - and NEVER DOING ANYTHING - -
6:07 you are more than welcome to take a risk buy a rental property and let me know how that works out when your renters don’t pay and destroy things,
Kids know right from wrong and if they don’t they will have time to learn locked up with all the other innocent people.
8:22 of course it’s Trumps fault…
typical Dem
1024, it's called profiling and using pattern recognition, its what people have been doing for thousands of years to help stay alive, and what cops have to use on the daily.
No, it's never an entire group of people, don't be a child about this, but stereotypes exist for a reason...
Quick example, every time you hear that Billy Bob McGuinnes was arrested for Meth, what type of character comes to YOUR mind? And how accurate are you nearly every single time? Is there anything wrong with using your eyes and brain?
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