LAWRENCE — Four teenagers said they stole an unregistered car from a tow lot, stole a pair of New Hampshire license plates to make it look registered, and then stole the battery out of another car to get it started, police said.
But while they were tinkering with the 2008 Honda Civic, they forgot to look for the LoJack.
Police nabbed the four after Friday's break at Domingo Towing and Auto Repair, 24 Medford St., when the car was found using a LoJack tracking device. It was found parked on Smith Street.
Police sat on the car because it wasn't the only thing stolen from the tow company. The four also helped themselves to a computer tower, keyboard and monitor, four tires and rims valued at more than $4,000, and an amplifier that was taken from the trunk of another car, police said.
Officers watched as a young man approached the car, and using a key fob, opened the car door, got in and started the car.
Officers closed in and removed the 15-year-old boy from the car. The boy told Detective Carl Farrington he didn't know the car was stolen. Farrington said he reminded the boy he hadn't said anything about the car being stolen.
The boy was arrested and charged with driving without a license, larceny of a motor vehicle, receiving a stolen motor vehicle, receiving stolen property over $250, attaching improper plates, theft of license plates, and malicious damage to a vehicle.
The investigation continued throughout the day Saturday, resulting in the arrests of two 16-year-old boys and Jose Rivera, 17, of 198 Water St. The tires and rims, computer and amplifier were later recovered from Rivera's home, police said.
Rivera and one of the 16-year-old boys were each charged with breaking and entering in the nighttime with intent to commit a felony, larceny of a motor vehicle, and unauthorized use of a vehicle. The 16-year-old also was charged with receiving stolen property. Rivera also was charged with malicious damage to a vehicle over $250 and attaching improper plates.
The other 16-year-old was charged with driving without a license, larceny of a motor vehicle, receiving a stolen motor vehicle, receiving stolen property over $250, attaching improper plates, theft of license plates, and unauthorized use of a vehicle.
Police said the teens said they intended to keep the car and chop it up, selling the parts for money.
"This was really heads-up police work," police Chief John Romero said yesterday. "The end result is all the property was recovered and four people were arrested."
