The latest investigation began after deputies were called Sunday to a used car dealership on Cesar Chavez Avenue in Pontiac. Investigators found signs of forced entry, a badly damaged Dodge Charger and a Dodge Dart that had been taken from the dealership.
The case quickly expanded as detectives connected the dealership break-in to two vehicles reportedly stolen from a Pontiac landscaping business during the previous two days.
A Chevrolet pickup truck was reported stolen on Sept. 19 and was allegedly used to crash through a fenced parking area. The following day, another truck, a Dodge Ram, was taken from the same business and later driven to the Pontiac dealership.
Surveillance footage gave investigators a closer look at what happened next. A person was seen climbing over a fence, breaking a window with a rock and entering the dealership. Several sets of vehicle keys were taken from inside.
The suspect then got into a Dodge Charger and attempted to use it to break through a gate. The Charger was heavily damaged and eventually became disabled. Investigators say the person then took a Dodge Dart from the property and drove it to another dealership in Waterford Township.
That Dart was allegedly used to ram a gate at the Waterford business. When deputies and Waterford Township officers arrived, they found evidence of a break-in, including a broken window, but no one was inside.
The investigation also reached a nearby dollar store, where authorities reported a retail fraud. Two other vehicles in the parking lot were damaged during unsuccessful attempts to steal them.
Detectives with the Oakland County Auto Theft Task Force reviewed surveillance footage from several locations and identified the 13-year-old as a suspect. Investigators arrested him less than 24 hours after opening the latest investigation. A search of his home also turned up clothing that investigators said matched what was seen during the incidents.
The boy had previously been arrested twice in 2025 in connection with vehicle theft cases in Pontiac and Waterford Township.
In July 2025, when he was 12, authorities accused him of taking three Chevrolet Silverado trucks and two trailers from a Waterford Township lawn-care business. The vehicles and trailers were valued at about $90,000 and were later recovered.
His earlier arrest in June 2025 involved several vehicles reportedly stolen from a Pontiac business. Investigators later said their investigation connected him to seven vehicles taken during that period, with at least one allegedly sold for $30.
The latest case has again raised concerns among business owners who have dealt with damage and stolen property.
Tony Jumma, the owner of the Pontiac dealership involved in the latest break-in, said the damage to the property was significant. At the same time, he said he believes the teenager needs help despite the financial losses caused by the incident.
Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard also said the repeated arrests raise questions about what should happen next in the juvenile case. He indicated that the court may need to take a stronger approach following the latest allegations.
The teenager has been lodged at Oakland County Children’s Village. Detectives have submitted a 16-count juvenile petition to the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office for review.
Because the suspect is a juvenile, authorities have not publicly identified him. The investigation remains active, and additional details could be released as investigators and prosecutors review the case.
