Four teens charged in Villa Park burglaries

Four teenagers have been charged with burglary or possession of stolen property after police found them with fireworks, laptops, jewelry, GPS units and a cellphone that had been reported missing from Villa Park, authorities said Tuesday.

Victor Vega, 18, of Villa Park, and three juveniles ages 17, 16 and 14, are facing charges as a result of a police investigation into several reports of vehicles and garages that were damaged and burglarized early May 5.

Vega faces a felony charge of possession of a controlled substance as well as misdemeanor charges of possession of stolen property, possession of fireworks, unlawful consumption of alcohol and contributing to the delinquency of a minor, authorities said.

The 17-year-old was charged with misdemeanor possession of stolen property. The 14- and 16-year-olds were charged with felony burglary.

Police said they were called at 4:21 a.m. May 5 to the 100 block of West Terrace Street for a car window that had been damaged. A witness said two males — possibly juveniles — were seen on bicycles leaving the area.

Police found one of the juveniles and Vega, who appeared to be under the influence of alcohol and possessed illegal fireworks, riding bikes about three blocks away.

Police arrested and released Vega and the juvenile, but when more reports of burglaries came in later, they took Vega into custody again at 2:20 p.m. May 5. At that time, Vega had a white powdery substance believed to be cocaine, authorities said.

A search of Vega’s home found a GPS unit stolen from a car early that morning and two laptops reported stolen earlier this year, police said.

Officers also learned two juveniles other than the one seen biking with Vega were involved in the burglaries.

The 17-year-old was taken into custody at his home, where police said they found several items reported stolen from a garage May 5.

The 16-year-old was taken into custody May 5, and a search of his home found a cellphone that was reported stolen from a vehicle in Villa Park earlier in the year.

The 14-year-old was taken into custody May 6 with jewelry believed to be stolen from one of the vehicles burglarized May 6, police said.

Vega is being held at DuPage County jail on $25,000 bond; the 17-year-old was released to his parents; and the 16- and 14-year-olds were taken to the youth home, police said.