Two Turlock teenagers were arrested on multiple theft-related charges after being caught by Merced County Sheriff’s deputies with stolen property at a Delhi service station.

Kyle Clardy, 18, and a 16-year-old boy were arrested early Thursday morning at the Travel Center in the 15000 block of August Avenue, said sheriff spokesman Deputy Tom MacKenzie.

The sheriff’s department was initially responding to the service station for a report of a group of individuals smoking and selling marijuana. When deputies arrived, they found a mini van parked at the gas pumps that looked as if it was being worked on and witnesses said two males ran off behind the store. The teens were found hiding behind the store, along with a black bag containing personal items and identification cards for people living in Hilmar. When deputies checked, they discovered the items were stolen from a vehicle in front of a Hilmar residence, MacKenzie said.

Clardy was also in a possession of a wallet that contained identification cards and items that did not belong to him.

A search of the van revealed a pair of bolt cutters, pliers, speakers, fishing poles and tackle. The minivan is registered out of Turlock and the owner is out of town for a week, MacKenzie said.

Clardy said he was at home when he was contacted by a friend to come and help get the van started. He told the deputies that he had nothing to do with the theft, but did admit that he knew the items were stolen because his friend told him so and his future plans of selling the stolen property, MacKenzie said.

Clardy said he ran and hid because he knew the items were stolen. The 16-year-old told the deputies that he didn’t know anything about the stolen items and that he was only there because he was spending the night at Clardy’s house. The boy said he ran because Clardy ran and “he figured he’d better run too,” MacKenzie said.

Clardy told the sheriff’s deputies that the guy who called them for help left just prior to the deputies showing, but he did not want to say who it was because he is afraid of him.

Clardy and the juvenile were arrested on charges of possession of stolen property, conspiracy to commit a crime and illegal use of a credit card, since they used the stolen card to put gas in the minivan.

The minivan was towed and will be released to the owner when he returns. If the van was stolen, they could be facing additional charges, MacKenzie said.

The juvenile was booked into Juvenile Hall without bail; Clardy has already posted the $22,000 bail on the above charges.

To contact Sabra Stafford e-mail sstafford@turlockjournal.com or call 634-9141 ext. 2002.