CHARLOTTE AMALIE — Two males, one a 19-year-old and the other a minor, stole a car from a parking garage on St. Thomas’ East End and took it for a joyride on Sunday night, authorities said.
Carl Previus, 19, of Estate Nadir, was arrested about 11 p.m. Sunday and charged with unauthorized use of a vehicle, grand larceny and damage to property, the Virgin Islands Police Department said.
The owner of the stolen vehicle reported that he parked his vehicle in the American Yacht Harbor parking garage and left the keyless remote inside of the vehicle which prevents the vehicle from locking, according to the VIPD. He returned to the area where he parked the vehicle to find that it was stolen.
“Investigation revealed that Previous and a 17-year-old male minor were loitering in the parking garage around the same time,” VIPD spokesman Toby Derima said. “Police located Previus and the minor driving the vehicle a few hours later in the vicinity of the Sugar Bay Hotel.”
The owner of the vehicle stated that he did not know the individuals who were in the car, nor he did not give them permission to drive his vehicle, police said.
Previus was arrested, and the minor was taken into protective custody and turned over to the Youth Investigation Bureau.
Bail for Previus was set at $25,000. Unable to post bail, he was remanded to the Bureau of Corrections pending his Advice of Rights hearing. The minor was remanded to the Youth Rehabilitation Center.
This case is currently under active investigation by the Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB).
Any persons having information regarding this incident are asked to call 911, the Criminal Investigation Bureau at (340) 774-2211 extension 5610, or Crime Stoppers USVI at (800) 222-TIPS.