Teens ram car into gun store for burglary, get stuck and call taxi, Florida cops say

A late-night burglary spree came to a humiliating end for three Florida teenagers when their car got stuck inside a gun store, and they decided to call a taxi, according to investigators in Florida.

The “string of burglaries to vehicles and businesses” played out in the dark Thursday, Dec. 19, along Commerce Center Drive in St. Cloud, police said in a news release. St. Cloud is about a 30-mile drive south from Orlando.

“Using a car that was reported stolen in Kissimmee, the group roamed the Summer Cove community targeting Kia brand vehicles to steal, and other vehicles to burglarize,” police said.

“Just before 5 a.m., the teens used their vehicle as a battering ram to drive through the wall of Signal Zero Supplies on Commerce Center Drive. After breaking through the front wall, the car became stuck and the three ... teens fled on foot, eventually using a rideshare app to try to escape.”

Investigators didn’t say where the teens met their ride, but officers were watching as they climbed into the taxi. It was then pulled over by a patrol car and the trio was arrested.

“Charges pending include grand theft, criminal mischief, possession of burglary tools, burglary auto or other conveyance, and more,” police said.

All three teens are from Kissimmee, about 10-mile drive northwest of St. Cloud.

The store, which was closed at the time, posted photos showing the car slammed through the front door about 3:50 a.m. and came to a stop just feet away from the front counter. It knocked over two large safes in the process.

Investigators did not report anything was stolen.

This story was originally published December 20, 2024 at 4:35 AM with the headline "Teens ram car into gun store for burglary, get stuck and call taxi, Florida cops say."