Teens accused of taking pizza delivery car for joy ride

Des Plaines police last week detained two 16-year-olds, a male from Mount Prospect and female from Des Plaines, on allegations they took a joy ride in a stolen pizza delivery car.

The teens took the car about 7 p.m. March 1 from outside a home in the 900 block of Beau Drive, Des Plaines police Sgt. Mike Holdman said. The car’s driver had left the car running while delivering a pizza, he said.

The victim told police he saw three juveniles standing in the roadway when he left his car. The car was gone when he returned, Holdman said.

When officers arrived, the victim was talking to one of the three juveniles, a 13-year-old girl, who identified the other two teens who had been with her, Holdman said.

“They were basically walking to the Jewel grocery store,” Holdman said. “The other male and female got into the car and drove.”

The vehicle was located a short time later on Algonquin Road near Friendship Park Conservatory. It was unoccupied and a cellphone was missing from inside, police said.

When the juvenile suspects later returned to the scene, which was the neighborhood where the 16-year-old girl lived, the 16-year-old male had the victim’s phone on him, police said. He later admitted to taking the car, Holdman said.

The juveniles have been released to the custody of their parents and will face a peer jury for criminal trespass to a vehicle, police said. The victim’s car and phone were returned to him without damage.