KEARNEY, Neb. — Three teenagers will likely face criminal charges after Kearney Police say they stole vehicles and led officers on a chase through town.

Kearney Police say the incident started around 5:00 Saturday morning. Officers responded to a vandalism call in the 1000 block of W 39th St., which is near the Horizon Middle School football field. According to a news release, officers tried to stop the suspect vehicle about a half-mile away. That’s when three teens exited the pickup and ran away. The truck continued on and crashed into another vehicle.

Police used a thermal-imaging drone to track two of the suspects as they fled through residential backyards. Officers eventually found a 17-year-old girl and 16-year-old boy hiding under a deck and arrested them.

Police say the third suspect, a 16-year-old boy, stole a different vehicle before eventually being arrested. Investigators later determined the pickup had been stolen earlier that morning.

“I am incredibly proud of the response from members of the Kearney Police Uniform Patrol Bureau and the responsible use of technology in locating and arresting these subjects while also recovering stolen property within minutes of the theft,” Chief Bryan Waugh said in a statement. 

Authorities are requesting juvenile petitions for each of the suspects. They each face minor in possession of alcohol, felony possession of stolen property and obstruction charges in addition to other charges. Police released the suspects to parents or guardians. The release says all three were already under the supervision of juvenile probation for previous criminal behavior.

Kearney Police have 11 drones and operate a specialized drone team of 12 certified pilots.

“The patrol-led deployment of the drone is an innovative approach and represents the commitment at KPD to acquire and responsibly deploy technology toward public safety, crime prevention, and crime solving; this is yet another example,” Waugh said.

In the release, police issued a reminder to the public about the importance of vehicle security.

“Please keep valuables out of sight, take your keys with you, and always remember to lock your vehicle doors,” the release said. “These simple precautions can go a long way in preventing such incidents.”