Polk County Sheriff’s Office deputies apprehended an 18-year-old Winter Haven man and a 13-year-old juvenile in connection with a string of vehicle break-ins in Jan Phyl Village’s Whisper Lakes area early July 22.
According to authorities, the crime occurred around 4:30 a.m. when two masked individuals broke into two vehicles. The thieves stole approximately $550 worth of items from two wallets inside the cars before departing the scene.
Responding detectives soon identified the 13-year-old suspect based on earlier law enforcement investigations.
At the time of the break-ins, the juvenile was on felony probation for grand theft. Deputies later identified the second suspect as Garrett Courtney, 18, of Winter Haven.
Both people were arrested and charged with the same principal offense: two second-degree felony counts of conveyance burglary, two third-degree felony counts of felony petit theft, and one third-degree felony crime of conspiracy to commit burglary.
Because both suspects wore masks while committing the acts, each charge against them was lawfully increased by one degree under state law.
In addition to the burglary and stealing charges, Courtney is facing a first-degree misdemeanor charge of contributing to a minor’s delinquency.
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