Springfield, IL  (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – Three juveniles were arrested Sunday morning after Springfield police saw them chasing each other in stolen vehicles near South Grand Avenue and Martin Luther King Drive. Officers had responded to numerous reports of vehicle burglaries and thefts over the previous two nights.

Two of the suspects were arrested during a traffic stop. The third suspect fled on foot but was later caught thanks to a tip from neighbors.

Police reported that a loaded firearm was recovered from one of the vehicles.

All three juveniles met the criteria for incarceration. However, a check of available space at juvenile detention centers in Illinois revealed only one bed space was available. One of the juveniles was transported to the detention center in Peoria. The other two were placed on electronic monitoring and released to their guardians.

One of the juveniles was already wearing an electronic monitoring device and is now facing additional charges, including:

Aggravated unlawful use of a weapon
Possession of a stolen firearm
Possession of a stolen motor vehicle
Unlawful possession of a firearm and firearm ammunition
Possession of a firearm without a FOID (Firearm Owner’s Identification)
Violation of bail bond (failure to surrender)