Des Plaines teens nabbed for graffiti, burglary

Des Plaines police have arrested four juvenile males — two 11-year-olds, a 16-year-old and a 17-year-old — involved in a string of graffiti cases near the downtown area over the past two weeks.

The 17-year-old, Michael D. Zurek, is being charged as an adult with two felony counts of burglary and multiple counts of criminal damage to property.

At about 2:20 a.m. on Dec. 4, several police patrol units responded to the area of Willow Park for a report of suspicious subjects. Officers checked the area and found four subjects who had broken into Protech, 216 S. Graceland, sprayed graffiti on the walls, damaged property and removed several items, police said.

The offenders were taken to the police station for further investigation. After questioning, the two 11-year-olds were turned over to their parents, police said. The 16-year-old will be petitioned in juvenile court at a later time for burglary and numerous criminal damage to property complaints, police said. Zurek also has been charged with a previous burglary at Protech on Nov. 27, police said.