13-year-old girl arrested after pursuit in stolen Ford F-150 in northern Indiana

Written from press release

ELKHART COUNTY, Ind. — July 8, 2026

A 13-year-old girl was taken into custody Tuesday morning after leading police on a pursuit in a stolen Ford F-150 in Elkhart County, according to Indiana State Police.

The case comes as full-size pickup trucks, including Ford F-150s, remain frequent targets for thieves because of their popularity, resale value, parts demand and, in many cases, the tools or equipment left inside them. The National Insurance Crime Bureau has repeatedly listed full-size pickups among the most stolen vehicles in the country, and the Ford F-150 ranked among the top 10 most stolen vehicles in the first half of 2025.

Master Trooper Danny Burch was patrolling near State Road 19 and County Road 26 about 8:40 a.m. July 7, 2026, when he saw a Ford F-150 traveling at a high rate of speed, police said.

Burch attempted to stop the truck, but the driver failed to pull over, prompting a pursuit, according to state police. During the pursuit, the F-150 left the roadway multiple times before becoming stuck in a cornfield near State Road 19 and County Road 30.

Police said the driver then got out of the truck and ran through a yard and nearby cornfield. Officers set up a perimeter and eventually found the suspect.

According to state police, the girl did not comply with commands and began advancing toward a trooper. A Taser was used, and she was taken into custody.

Police said the suspect was identified as a 13-year-old girl from Elkhart County. The F-150 was later determined to have been reported stolen out of Goshen.

The girl was taken to a hospital for medical clearance. After it was determined she had no injuries, she was transported to the Elkhart Juvenile Justice Center.

The Indiana State Police were assisted by the Elkhart Police Department, Elkhart County Sheriff’s Department, Wakarusa Police Department and Goshen Police Department.

The theft of full-size trucks remains a persistent issue even as overall vehicle thefts have declined nationally. NICB reported that U.S. vehicle thefts fell 17% in 2024 and continued to decline in the first half of 2025, but pickups remain attractive to thieves because they are common, valuable and easy to move into resale, parts-stripping or work-vehicle theft markets.

Newer theft methods also include attacks on remote keyless entry systems and key fobs, including relay-style attacks that can make a vehicle respond as if the real key is nearby. Researchers have documented vulnerabilities in remote and passive keyless entry systems, while automakers have increasingly added tracking, remote disabling and anti-theft technology to newer trucks.

All suspects are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

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