A runaway teen caused quite a stir in the Cookeville Highway area of the county last week, after he broke into several homes and attempted to steal some cars.

DeKalb County Sheriff Patrick Ray told the Smithville Review that on Wednesday, June 23, at 9:49 p.m., deputies were dispatched to Relax Drive at the Timothy Hills Boys Home in reference to a 17-year-old runaway. The teen was reportedly last seen at the home at around 8:40 p.m. that evening, and while on the scene deputies collected information for a missing person report, and began patrolling the area looking for the juvenile.

The following day, authorities say they began getting break in calls at multiple residences on Ponder Road, Cookeville Highway, and Briarwood Court. Then, at around 8:45 a.m., deputies were notified an employee of the Timothy Hills Boys Home found the juvenile asleep on the property.

After questioning the juvenile, the teen stated he was trying to find keys in a vehicle so he could leave the state and go to Mississippi. The juvenile stated he had gone to a residence on Puckett’s Point Road where he broke into a garage to steal a vehicle, but found there were no keys in the vehicle.

He then reportedly traveled to Ponder Road and found keys to a truck, but the truck was equipped with a straight shift transmission, and the juvenile could not drive it.

Next, the teen went to multiple residents on Cookeville Highway, and Briarwood Court, then was later seen on Allen’s Ferry Road, near Stonegate, by a passerby, and was given a ride back to the boys home on Relax Drive.

While entering into vehicles at these residences, Sheriff Ray said the juvenile stole money, multiple sets of various keys, and a Taser. Some of the sets of keys, money, and the Taser have been recovered and returned.

Juvenile’s petitions have been taken on the 17-year-old and he will appear in Juvenile Court July 7. Additional reports are still being received