Car thieves who led Racine County Sheriff’s deputies on a high-speed chase on Interstate 94 may have attempted to hit a Kenosha dealership first.

Thieves broke into a Libertyville, Ill., car dealership on Sunday, taking five vehicles and then sped north on Interstate 94, with lights off and speeds of more than 100 mph.

One of the vehicles crashed around 11:30 p.m. after Racine deputies put spike strips on I-94, but the thieves were able to escape on foot.

According to a statement from the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Department, it appears that a similar theft was attempted at the Kenosha Nissan dealership, 8050 120th Ave., earlier the same night.

Sheriff Dave Beth said it seems likely the thieves tried to hit the Kenosha store first, then went to Illinois when they were unsuccessful “or they were part of the same crew.”

Just before midnight, deputies doing a routine check at the auto dealerships along the frontage road found a damaged door at the Nissan dealership. Deputies went inside and found four vehicles with engines running, but no one inside the building.

It appeared the thieves broke into the business through a door, then grabbed keys and attempted to take vehicles that were parked inside in the service garage.

Sgt. Eric Klinkhammer said they attempted to ram an overhead garage door with one of the vehicles to break out of the garage, but were unsuccessful. He said the door controls are in a secure location in the building, and the thieves could not access them.

Klinkhammer said the thieves may have abandoned their attempt because they were unable to get the garage doors open and get the vehicles out.

The theft attempt is very similar to what occurred at the Libertyville’s Gregory Infiniti dealership the same night, with people breaking into the dealership and taking five Infiniti SUVs.

Klinkhammer said it may be that the thieves left the Kenosha dealership when they were unsuccessful and then moved on to the Libertyville location.

Anyone with information on this crime should contact the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Department Detective Bureau at 262-605-5100.