Two Young Girls Arrested For Using Found Keys to Steal Car From Mall Parking Lot

In the case of one young woman, unknowingly dropping her car keys was more than just a frustration--it led to her car being stolen.

According to Fairfax County police, a 20-year woman parked her car to go shopping at the Fair Oaks Mall in Fairfax on Wednesday, and ended up accidentally leaving her keys in a store--and two young girls decided to take advantage of the situation.

Police said a 19-year-old girl and her 12-year-old female cousin took the keys, and headed for the parking lot. By setting off the key fob, they were able to locate the car in the lot, and drove away with it.

Police said the girls drove the car into Washington, D.C. to pick up the older girl's boyfriend, and then drove to an area off of Sunrise Valley Drive in Reston.

When the car's owner realized it had been stolen, she reported it to police, who used the car's internal GPS system to track the vehicle.

Patrol officers responded to the Reston location and took both girls into custody.

The 19-year-old driver, a resident of Reston, was charged with grand larceny, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and driving without a license. The 12-year-old girl was released to her parents.