HENDERSONVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Authorities need the community’s help to find a suspected car thief who was seen casing a Hendersonville neighborhood last weekend.
During the early morning hours on Sunday, Feb. 16, multiple surveillance cameras captured what the Hendersonville Police Department (HPD) described as two young men trying to break into multiple vehicles.
According to detectives, the individuals stole a wallet from one car and found a key fob in an SUV. The young men reportedly drove the SUV a couple of blocks, but there was a mechanical failure and they abandoned the vehicle.
Investigators broke the case when a stolen credit card was used at a Nashville vape shop later that morning. Footage shows two young men buying vape products with the stolen credit card.
Police tracked one of the suspects down and arrested him on Wednesday, Feb. 19. Authorities said the young man — who turned 18 that day — had incriminating evidence at his home when he was taken into custody.
Law enforcement told News 2 the teen lives in the Mansker Farms community that he allegedly targeted.
Now police are seeking the second suspect seen in the vehicle burglary videos and the vape store.
“We know that he’s going to be a friend — potentially even related to the guy that we have already arrested,” HPD Lt. Chris Gagnon said.
“I woke up to take my daughter to work [and] there was no car in the driveway,” the owner of the stolen SUV said.
“How’d you feel?” News 2’s Andy Cordan asked.
“Confused,” the victim replied. “I’m half asleep. I’m like, ‘I don’t think I parked anywhere else.'”
However, the SUV owner said nothing was taken from the car.
“They told me that one of the kids that they arrested is from Mansker Farms. How do you feel that one of the kids that lives in your community was allegedly victimizing people in his own community?” Cordan inquired.
“That’s sad,” the victim responded.
According to authorities, the teen who was arrested faces one count of attempted burglary — but that number could go up — as well as six counts of burglary; three counts of theft under $1,000; one count of theft over $2,500; and identity theft.
If you have any information about the identity of the second suspect, you’re urged to contact HPD at 615-822-1111.
