Teens Charged In Palatine Car Burglaries

Two juveniles have been charged with burglarizing three unlocked cars in Palatine.

Police said a witness in the 600 block of West Dorset called 9-1-1 at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 22 to report that he saw juveniles running from a vehicle. The vehicle's car alarm was going off.

The witness provided police a description of a vehicle the youths left in, a black Volvo SUV. Police said that an hour later an officer spotted the vehicle parked at a fast food restaurant in the 200 block of W. Northwest Highway.

As the officer approached the vehicle, the juveniles exited the vehicle and fled into a wooded area. Police said that a perimeter was set up and a canine unit called. The juveniles were caught in the 500 block of W. Colfax St.

The juveniles, a 14-year-old from Palatine and a 16-year-old from Hoffman Estates, admitted to trying to gain access to the vehicle on West Dorset. The youths also admitted to entering a 2008 Hyundai in the 1600 block of N. Edgewater Drive and a 2004 Jeep and 2000 Toyota which were parked in the 1300 block of N. Portage Avenue.

Police said they recovered an iPod, radar detector and cash.

The 14-year-old juvenile will be petitioned to Juvenile Court on three counts of burglary to motor vehicle and one count of possession of cannabis. The 16-year-old will go to Juvenile Court on two counts of burglary to motor vehicle, possession of cannabis and possession of drug paraphernalia.