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Bail set at $15,000 for Zion man charged with stealing from teacher

A Lake County judge set bail Sunday at $15,000 for a Zion man facing felony charges alleging he stole from a teacher at a Gages Lake school, authorities said.

Lavonte M. Murel, 20, of the 1900 block of Jethro Avenue, is accused of stealing debit and credit cards from the Woodland Elementary School teacher and making $1,200 in purchases, according to a news release from the Lake County Sheriff's Office.

On Dec. 2, the teacher told police and school administrators that a debit card and credit card were missing from her purse, officials said.

Administrators found video surveillance footage of a man, later identified as Murel, entering the school about 4:15 p.m. on Nov. 30, police said. The video footage also showed Murel entering a classroom, officials said.

Murel, who was arrested Saturday, told sheriff's detectives he went to Woodland Elementary School to apply for a job but instead looked for items to steal, authorities said.

"School safety is one of our top priorities," Sheriff Mark Curran said in a statement. "We will not tolerate anybody unlawfully entering or committing a crime in a school facility."

Murel is charged with burglary to a school, identity theft and unlawful use of credit cards, police said. He is being held at the Lake County jail and is scheduled to appear in court Wednesday.

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