A teenage car thief was identified from fingerprints and apprehended in Central Florida.
According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, fingerprints collected from two stolen vehicles and analyzed by a latent print examiner resulted in the positive identification and arrest of a 14-year-old suspect on probation for two counts of grand theft of a motor vehicle, among other charges.
A Lakeland resident contacted PCSO to report the theft of her 2020 Kia Forte. Two hours later, another Lakeland resident reported the theft of his Toyota Tacoma. The Toyota owner located his stolen truck using a mobile app on his phone and showed deputies where it was parked, in a field off Parker Street West. Upon their arrival at the scene, deputies found both stolen vehicles parked out of sight from the road.
The PCSO Forensics Investigations Unit responded and investigated both vehicles, recovering fingerprints from each and objects discovered within. Following processing, the vehicles were restored to their respective owners, and the investigation continued.
The latent print cards were taken to the PCSO Identification Section and run through databases; the prints from the exterior hood, driver’s door, and rear door were positively identified as belonging to 14-year-old Eluterio Koenig, who has previously been convicted of theft and has been on probation since December 2024.
Detectives interviewed Koenig, who admitted to being in the location where the Kia was stolen before claiming he was “riding in the Kia.” He then admitted to stealing it and throwing the key away. He also acknowledged stealing the Toyota, parking it where it was discovered, and leaving the key inside.
According to local law enforcement, Koenig was detained and charged with two charges of grand theft of a motor vehicle, two counts of burglary, grand theft of a controlled narcotic, and probation violation.