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Teens lead law enforcement on a chase in the Des Moines metro area Sunday night following an alleged theft

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April 9th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa — [KCCI] Police say two teenagers stole expensive bottles of cologne and then triggered a high-speed police chase. That chase ended on a busy Des Moines freeway exit ramp. It started Sunday night at Jordan Creek Town Center Von Maur department store. And it didn’t stop until West Des Moines police, Des Moines police, and the Iowa State Patrol chased and arrested the teens.

The call came into West Des Moines police at about 5:20 p.m. Sunday. Two 17-year-olds ran off with two bottles of Versace and Coach cologne worth about $200. But police say the report of a fight with Von Maur security staff put them on alert. A short time later, an off-duty police officer spotted the suspects’ car near the Mid-American Rec Plex, and the chase began.

It ran through West Des Moines and then headed to the freeway and into Des Moines at speeds as high as 95 mph. Eventually, the Iowa State Patrol boxed the car in on the 42nd Street off-ramp. It was closed for several hours Sunday night. Police say they later learned the teens did not fight with the Van Maur security staff. And they can’t understand why the suspects would run.

Police say the two 17-year-olds were charged with theft and were taken to juvenile detention.