A man woke up to discover his teenage niece had allegedly stolen his car in the middle of the night—and then posted video of herself driving more than 100 mph on Snapchat.
Deputies responded to a home in the Chesapeake area around 4:30 a.m. after the vehicle was reported stolen.
According to the report, the girl’s guardian told deputies his 15-year-old niece secretly took the keys to his 2019 Toyota Camry while everyone was asleep and drove away without permission.
The guardian said the teen has never received driver’s training and does not have a learner’s permit, leaving him terrified for her safety.
While deputies were still at the home, the guardian accessed the girl’s Snapchat account and showed officers a video he said appeared to show her traveling on a roadway at speeds exceeding 100 mph.
A short time later, family members called to report they had spoken with the teen by phone. She allegedly said she was in Huntington, West Virginia, with a flat tire before abruptly hanging up.
Deputies immediately issued a BOLO for the vehicle to surrounding law enforcement agencies, including Huntington Police and Cabell County authorities. They also entered both the vehicle and the missing juvenile into national law enforcement databases.
The guardian told deputies he wanted to pursue charges for the theft and provided a written statement. He also agreed to send investigators screenshots from the Snapchat account.
Before deputies had even finished the investigation, dispatch notified them that Huntington Police had located the Toyota during a traffic stop near 29th Street and 5th Avenue.
The teen, the vehicle, and her guardian were all at the scene when officers arrived, bringing the overnight search to a safe conclusion.
A Dangerous Mix of Inexperience and Speed
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, speeding remains one of the leading factors in fatal crashes, and inexperienced drivers face an even greater risk because they have less time to recognize hazards and react appropriately.
Law enforcement encourages parents and guardians to keep vehicle keys secured if there are concerns that a child may take a vehicle without permission. Social media posts can also become important evidence during criminal investigations when they document alleged crimes or dangerous behavior.
