Mother and teenage son arrested in attempted car theft on Chicago’s West Side

CHICAGO (CBS) – A mother-son duo was in police custody Thursday night, accused of attempted car theft in the Humboldt Park neighborhood.

According to police sources, mother and son were together during a series of crimes – before they were both arrested.

A police chase ended at Chicago’s Kedzie Plaza, 800 N. Kedzie Ave., just before most stores opened for the day around 8 a.m. Thursday.

Police said the 16-year-old son had attempted to violently steal a car from a 50-year-old woman in the 3200 block of West Fulton Street in the East Garfield Park neighborhood a few hours earlier.

CBS 2 was told that the same teenager – with his mother in tow – threatened a 31-year-old man and a 32-year-old woman at gunpoint and damaged a 28-year-old woman’s vehicle before fleeing the scene.

CBS 2 sources said the teen eventually ended up at the mall, where he threw away his gun and a concealed carry permit holder intervened to prevent the teen from escaping.

Meanwhile, CBS 2 was told that the 16-year-old’s mother drove away at some point and then returned – only to see her son being arrested.

He was charged with three serious crimes: attempted auto theft, unlawful entry of a vehicle and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon by a person under 21. He is also charged with various misdemeanors.

According to other sources, the teenager’s mother was arrested in the 3300 block of West Potomac Avenue in the Humboldt Park neighborhood and charged with attempting to elude a police officer and soliciting a minor to commit a crime.