Teen accused in theft of 9 Honda Civics

STANSBURY PARK, Tooele County — A 16-year-old roller-blading high school student stole nine Honda Civics for joy rides in November, the sheriff's office said.

But the 10th Civic belonged to an employee of the Tooele County Sheriff's Office and was part of a sting operation on Nov. 28, sheriff's Sgt. Brad Patch said. The car was parked on a street in the neighborhood where the others were taken. Officers hid nearby and blocked city streets leading to U-36, which would take a driver out of town.

The Civic models ranged from 1995-2000. The boy reportedly chose those cars because he could easily break in and start the ignition. The boy allegedly took stereos from some of the cars.

"Other than that, it was pretty much joy riding. He'd drive them for the night and dump them" blocks from where he took them, Patch said.

During one alleged joy ride, the boy drove as far as Kaysville but ditched the car when a tire went flat. The car did not have a spare. The boy then allegedly took a Civic parked in Kaysville and drove it back home, Patch said.