HOT WHEELS

In 2016, three teenage girls drove a stolen car into a cemetery pond and drowned. Like many other teens in Pinellas County, they had made a sport of stealing cars, and before that night, had been arrested a combined seven times for grand theft auto. The Tampa Bay Times sought to understand this phenomenon: Kids stealing cars, driving dangerously, getting arrested again and again with little repercussions.

We spent months reading thousands of pages of police reports; riding along with officers who specialize in this crime; interviewing judges, lawyers and criminologists; and talking with teenage car thieves, their families and their victims.

We learned that this real life game of Grand Theft Auto is dangerous. It’s spreading. And we’re part of the problem.

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Read the series

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Major developments

► 5 ways officials are trying to stop Pinellas' teenage car thieves ► U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist on juvenile auto theft: "People are dying because of what's happening here." ► Officials plan to take action after Times series about juvenile car theft in Pinellas County ► Trying to turn around juvenile car thieves, one case at a time ► New tracking system could help put a dent in juvenile car theft epidemic ► DJJ proposes stronger consequences for teens who steal cars ► National study to focus on juvenile car theft epidemic in Pinellas ► State plans to examine scoring tool key to juvenile auto theft epidemic

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Another Deadly Crash

► Three boys dead after fiery crash in stolen SUV, Pinellas sheriff says ► Teens in stolen car crash had 126 arrests; murder charges possible ► Victim recalls horrific crash that killed three in stolen car ► Boy who died in stolen car did wrong, but was still a boy, mom says ► Hours after fatal stolen car crash, surviving teens talked unfiltered about the crime ► Friends, family gather in Clearwater to remember teens who died in SUV crash ► Tearful teen who survived stolen SUV crash to be held in juvenile detention ► Timeline: The night of the crash ► The kids: Six teens involved in stolen car crash have troubled histories

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Read our continuing coverage

► Victim recalls horrific crash that killed three in stolen car ► Teens in stolen car crash had 126 arrests; murder charges possible ► Boy who died in stolen car did wrong, but was still a boy, mom says ► Three boys dead after fiery crash in stolen SUV, Pinellas sheriff says ► Something to run from; An examination into the lives of Pinellas County's top 14 juvenile auto theft offenders ► A St. Pete street, a teen car thief, and the most unlikely victim. ► The easiest way to get your car stolen. ► They had just gotten their cars back. Then, they disappeared again. ► How the juvenile justice system works — and doesn’t — when it comes to car theft

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About the reporters

Zachary T. Sampson
is a Times reporter who covers crime and breaking news in St. Petersburg. His 2016 investigation into Walmart’s costly practice of using local law enforcement officers to police its stores garnered national acclaim and led to reforms. Contact him at [email protected]. Read more…
Lisa Gartner
is a reporter on the Times enterprise team. She won a Pulitzer Prize in 2016 for an investigation that showed how a neglectful school board turned some Pinellas County schools into “Failure Factories.” Contact her at [email protected]. Read more…
Dirk Shadd
is an award-winning photojournalist whose work includes “Failure Factories.” He has spent more than 18 years covering Lightning hockey. Contact him at [email protected]. Follow @dirkshadd. Read more…