5 children steal, crash Kia, then runaway from Dayton officers

DAYTON — Five children stole and crashed a Kia, then fled from authorities in Dayton Saturday overnight.

>> MORE: 2 suspects crash stolen vehicle, then flee from authorities in Springfield

Dayton Police were dispatched to the 1900 block of Kensington Drive at 4:18 a.m. on a threat investigation, Montgomery County Regional Dispatch said.

About 35 minutes later, at 4:53 a.m., officers responded to a vehicle that crashed near the same area, which was connected to the threat investigation.

As officers responded to the crash, they discovered five juveniles fleeing from the scene into a wooded area inside the residential neighborhood. Officers requested a drone with thermal technology to pinpoint where the five juveniles were or where they were escaping to.

Due to the unbarricaded property lines of the residential neighborhood, officers believed that the suspects were running through adjacent homeowners’ backyards.

A preliminary investigation found that the crashed vehicle was a red Kia car that was previously reported stolen.

The Dayton Police Department led the investigation into the grand theft auto.

We will update this story as it develops.

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