A Central Florida teen suspect was arrested for multiple car burglaries and gun thefts, and his stepfather fought with deputies and was also arrested.
During the early morning hours, Polk County Sheriff’s deputies assigned to the Northwest District in the north Lakeland area solved a series of car burglaries, recovered three stolen firearms, arrested the teenaged suspect, and then arrested the teen’s stepfather when he decided to physically fight them.
The car burglary trend began in the middle of September 2024 in the Hamlet Circle area. A wallet was stolen from a vehicle parked overnight. One month later, two firearms were stolen in the same area from another personal vehicle. Video surveillance from the October burglary showed a suspect wearing gloves, a face mask, and long sleeves, flipping door handles and attempting to break car windows.
On October 31st, in the middle of the day, deputies responded to Hamlet Circle in response to a suspect fitting the same description attempting to break into vehicles, who was scared off by a resident. The resident confronted the suspect, who grabbed his waistband and said that he “had something for him,” and clarified that it was a firearm if he came any closer. In fear for his life, the witness retreated and called 911. During this time frame, one vehicle had its back window shattered…