Teens charged in connection with 4 Ingelside home burglaries

Two local teens have been charged in connection with burglaries that netted nearly $20,000 in cash, jewelry and other items from homes in Ingleside, according to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.

Erick Garcia, 19, of the 35000 block of Hunt Avenue, was charged with four counts of residential burglary in connection with burglaries on the 36000 block of Helendale Road, the 25000 block of Long Beach Drive, the 35000 block of Watson Avenue and the 35000 block of Wilson Avenue. A 14-year-old male was also charged, according to Sheriff’s Sgt. Sara Balmes. Both are from Ingleside.

Jewelry, electronics, shoes, and cash were taken from the homes. In some cases, the doors were unlocked and in others intruders smashed a window to get inside. The men were taken in to custody Monday.

On Nov. 8, police said Garcia was using the bathroom inside the Helendale Road residents when he was discovered by the homeowner. Balmes said Garcia told the homeowner he was sick. The homeowner told him to leave and subsequently discovered items missing from the home. Garcia was identified by the homeowner in a photo lineup, police said, but he could not be located by detectives.

On Dec. 3, the sheriff’s office received several reports of two suspicious subjects near the Long Lake train station. Residents said the pair had been running through yards and hopping fences.

The pair emerged from the woods as deputies were checking the area. Garcia had a bottle of vodka and was taken into custody, according to the sheriff’s office. A search showed Garcia also had jewelry in his possession, police said. The pair told deputies they had taken the jewelry from homes in the area, showed them the homes they had entered and later admitted to other home burglaries, according to the sheriff’s office.

Garcia posted the required 10 percent of a $25,000 bond and was released with a court date of Jan. 2. The 14-year-old was taken to the Depke Juvenile Justice Center near Vernon Hills, where he remained Friday.

Most of the stolen property was recovered, although $1,500 in cash was not, according to sheriff’s police.