UPDATE: Berkeley police arrest 12-year-olds linked to stolen car
On Tuesday, police identified the pair as a 12-year-old boy from Oakland and a 12-year-old girl from San Pablo.
Berkeley police have just arrested a 12-year-old boy and girl who were spotted in a car that had been stolen from Oakland, authorities report.
Police saw the stolen Hyundai Sonata just before 10 p.m. Monday around Fairview and California streets in South Berkeley. Two people were inside.
A Berkeley police officer put on his lights and tried to stop the driver who fled, the Berkeley Police Department said in response to a Berkeley Scanner inquiry.
The boy and girl jumped out of the car at Market and 60th streets, about a half-mile away, and tried to escape, BPD said.
But officers caught up with them about a block-and-a-half later and took them into custody.
Police said one of the children had been driving the vehicle but it was not clear which one.
It appears they may have struck a curb as they tried to flee in the car, breaking its front axle, said BPD.
Police said the children would likely be released to relatives, but that was still to be determined as of publication time.
Update, Feb. 21: The Berkeley Police Department shared a bit more information Tuesday about Monday night's arrest.
BPD said the incident began around 9:50 p.m. Monday when officers got a LoJack alert about a stolen vehicle in South Berkeley.
That car was identified as a 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe that had been stolen from Oakland earlier in the day, BPD said.
Police found the car at California and Harmon streets by tracking the LoJack signal. They tried to stop the car but the driver sped off, heading west on 62nd Street, according to Berkeley police.
BPD did not chase the car but stayed in the area, authorities said.
Officers then found the car, which had crashed into a parked vehicle, on Market Street between 60th and 61st streets, BPD said.
Two people got out of the car and ran when officers approached, BPD said. Police were able to detain them a few blocks away.
On Tuesday, police identified the pair as a 12-year-old boy from Oakland and a 12-year-old girl from San Pablo.
They were arrested on suspicion of possessing stolen property and resisting arrest, the Berkeley Police Department said.
The boy and girl were cited and later released to their parents or guardians.
Editor's note: Police initially said two boys had been arrested but it turned out to have been a boy and a girl. The story was updated shortly after publication.
