LAKE COUNTY, Ohio — *Editor's Note: The video in the player above is from a previous report.
A group of law enforcement agencies in Lake County are proving that they're capable of fighting crime together. The Lake County Sheriff's Office, the Mentor Police Department, and the Willoughby Police Department recently teamed up to capture car theft suspects.
On Monday around 4 a.m., the Lake County Sheriff's Office responded to a home in Painesville Township for reports of stolen vehicle.
The victim told deputies that his vehicle, a maroon 2018 Ford Explorer, had been stolen within the last 15 minutes. After checking his cameras, the victim also stated that two other vehicles were observed during the theft--a white sedan and a white SUV or minivan.
Using the stolen vehicle's GPS system, officers were led to the area of Katherine Drive in Mentor. With the help of Mentor Police, deputies located the three vehicles matching the description provided by the victim in the area.
While locating the vehicles, officers observed three men entering them that immediately fled after seeing the officers. Sheriff's deputies and Mentor police pursued the suspects who fled on SR. 44 near Heisley Road to Mentor Avenue.
One of the suspects was stopped by Mentor Police by using stop sticks. He then fled on foot and was taken into custody shortly after with the help of Mentor Police K-9, Achilles.
The remaining two vehicles involved fled westbound on Mentor Avenue into Willoughby. Willoughby Police arrested one of the operators and secured both of the other vehicles, which were also reported stolen.
Two suspects are currently in custody at the Lake County Jail pending charges and three stolen vehicles in total were recovered.
On Monday, the Lake County Sheriff's Office issued a statement thanking the Mentor and Willoughby Police Departments for their help.
"It is because of these partnerships these criminals were taken into custody without injury or further loss of property.," said the Lake County Sheriffs Office in a press release.
The Sherriff's Office reports there being in an influx in the number of stolen vehicles throughout the area in recent weeks and month. They urged all citizens to remember to lock your vehicles and secure you keys when not in use.
*Editor's Note: The video in the player above is from a previous report.