Police arrest Peachtree City teens after car thefts, chase

PEACHTREE CITY, Ga. - Two teenagers face a long list of charges after Peachtree City Police said the pair stole multiple vehicles and even lead officers on a chase.

Officers arrested Benjamin Burns, 18, and Jason Brook, 17, on Tuesday.

According to investigators, a Tyrone police officer noticed two cars going down the road without lights on early Tuesday morning. The officer tried to stop the vehicles, but the drivers did not comply. The drivers, later identified as Burns and Brook, instead fled from the officer.

Brook, police said, abandoned the stolen Honda Ridgeline that he was driving and ran into the woods. Burns lead police on a high-speed chase before crashing a stolen Volkswagon Golf outside Peachtree City Elementary School and running away. Officers said a short time later, Burns stole a golf cart with the keys inside it from an unlocked garage in a nearby neighborhood.

Peachtree City officers found Burns's wallet and cell phone at the scene of the crash and waited for him to return. When Burns and Brook came back to look for the items later that day, police arrested them.

Investigators said the pair had been involved in a series of crimes beginning on Monday, November 20 including several car break-ins and the thefts of two golf carts as well as the Honda and VW. Both cars, according to police, were left unlocked with the keys inside. The teens also stole a gun from an unlocked car, police said. 

"With the stolen gun and the stolen vehicle, they were planning an armed robbery here at one of our local restaurants," said Peachtree City Police Lt. Mark Brown.

The teenagers did not go through with the robbery, but are charged with criminal attempt to commit armed robbery, felony theft by taking and four counts of entering auto, along with other crimes.

Police also arrested two unidentified juveniles who they said helped Brook and Burns with the golf cart thefts.

"Please lock your cars. Please lock your doors. Take your guns out of vehicles and keep everything nice and secure," Lt. Brown urged residents.