Chesterton, IN – Three Illinois residents found themselves in hot water when their reported $50 vehicle purchase turned out to be stolen.
Chesterton Police Department sprang into action after a license plate reader flagged the suspicious car, leading to a surprising discovery for a stolen Illinois license plate fixed to a white Kia Soul.
Officers quickly located the vehicle and initiated a traffic stop, which reportedly turned up drug paraphernalia and hypodermic needles. The trio of passengers claimed the driver bought the car from an ex-boyfriend without proper documentation. However, a missing steering column and stolen license plates told a different story.
Inside the vehicle, officers found used and unused syringes, smoking devices, over-the-counter medications, and mysterious white powdery residue. Chicago Police later confirmed the Kia was also stolen out of the city.
The yet-to-be-identified driver now faces multiple charges, including auto theft and possession of a syringe. Two passengers were also charged with possession of a syringe and paraphernalia. All three suspects were taken to Porter County Jail.
