Two teens involved in Tamaqua theft

A car stolen in Tamaqua Wednesday evening was recovered in West Penn Township a short time later following a high speed chase.

A 1998 Pontiac Bonneville was stolen from the unit block of Hunter Street when its driver exited the vehicle to deliver a pizza shortly after 6 p.m. Tamaqua police were contacted and a "be on the lookout for" was issued through the Schuylkill County Communications Center.

As chance would have it 15 minutes later the wife of the Pontiac's owner was traveling on SR309 when she saw her husband's car in the area of the White Diner. She followed the Pontiac, honking her vehicle's horn and flashing the lights. This attracted the attention of West Penn Township police, who were patrolling the area.

The officer pursued the Bonneville south to west on SR443. The pursuit ended when the suspect vehicle was driven onto a grassy area in the vicinity of Oak Terrace Road. The driver, a 16 year old male, was immediately taken into custody. A passenger fled the scene.

Township and borough police searched the area and about an hour later the second suspect was apprehended while walking along the roadway. He also was identified as a 16 year old.

The teens were taken into custody and transported to the Tamaqua station. Juvenile authorities were contacted and advised police to file a juvenile referral in the morning. The suspects were released into the custody of a foster parent.

Hours later the teens left the foster home and were reported as "runaways." Their identities and descriptions were distributed to all area law enforcement agencies.