Two juvenile escapees accused of arson, burglary in Antioch

Two juveniles who escaped from a treatment facility in Wisconsin face arson and burglary charges for damage they caused to a home in the 300 block of Abbey Court in Antioch, authorities said.

Antioch Police Chief Craig Somerville said several car burglaries were reported Sunday in the Oakwood Knolls subdivision, hours before Kenosha, Wisconsin police asked for help in finding the juveniles who had run away from the Allendale Association's Benet Lake Residential Treatment Facility, about 10 miles north of Antioch in Benet Lake, Wisconsin.

Kenosha authorities said the unidentified juveniles were caught on camera committing several car burglaries at the Wisconsin facility, Somerville said.

The juveniles are not being identified by the Daily Herald because of their ages.

Antioch officers joined in the hunt for the juveniles and started canvassing the area, but called off the search and headed to Wisconsin at 3:30 p.m. when Kenosha authorities reported the juveniles were back at Benet Lake center and threatening staff members, Somerville said.

When officers began heading north, Somerville said, a separate call reported a burglary and fire in a home on Abbey Court. Antioch Fire Department personnel responded and put out the structure fire, but not before extensive fire and smoke damage was reported, Somerville said.

After their arrest in Kenosha, the juvenile offenders were found in possession of items taken from the Antioch residential and car burglaries, he said.

Antioch detectives spoke with both juveniles, and each admitted to committing the burglary and arson on Abbey Court, as well as the car burglaries in Oakwood Knolls, Somerville said.

They were taken into custody by the Kenosha County sheriff's deputies and charged with offenses they committed at Benet Lake. After those charges are completed, they be referred to the Depke Juvenile Detention Center near Vernon Hills for potential charges of arson, residential burglary and burglary to a motor vehicle.

"This series of foolish and reckless acts had the potential to escalate quickly into a tragedy," Somerville said. "Due to the quick response of Antioch police and fire personnel, additional losses were minimized and arrests were made."