Teens nabbed in Round Lake Park car burglaries

A Round Lake Park bicycle patrol officer's stakeout resulted in the arrests of two teenage car burglars early Wednesday, authorities said.

Round Lake Park Police Chief George Filenko said the teenage boys admitted responsibility for 13 burglaries to motor vehicles in the early morning hours Tuesday and Wednesday in a subdivision northwest of Washington Street and Hainesville Road.

Michael T. Wolyn, 17, of the 200 block of E. Washington Street, has been charged with six burglary counts so far, police said. A 16-year-old boy who acted as Wolyn's lookout was referred to Lake County juvenile authorities, Filenko said.

Police received six reports about burglaries to unlocked vehicles starting at 6:15 a.m. Tuesday, Filenko said. He said an officer who typically patrols the streets on a bicycle then suggested he stake out the area early Wednesday.

After parking his squad car about a quarter-mile away, Filenko said, the cop took his bike from the trunk and pedalled to the area where the burglaries occurred. He said the officer soon spotted the 16-year-old lookout.

Filenko said the uniformed officer pedalled close enough to see Wolyn entering a vehicle. He said the cop called for backup and arrested the teenagers about 1:45 a.m. before assistance arrived.

Included in the teens' take were fuzzy dice, loose change, a digital camera, an iPod, packs of gum and a wooden crocodile, authorities said.

Filenko said the 16-year-old was on the streets overnight because he told his parents he's be attending a sleepover at Wolyn's home.

Round Lake Park police intend to issue reminders in residents' water bills about the importance of locking their vehicles.