Crime & Safety
3 Teens Nabbed in Burglary Try, Police Say
Joliet police say one suspect served as the getaway driver while his two friends tried to enter a house, apparently not realizing the resident was home.
Three Joliet teens were arrested for attempted residential burglary after the homeowner was able to chase them out of his house and then flag down a police officer for help, Joliet Police Cmdr. Rich Demick said.
Bryan Bernal, 18, of 717 Cleveland, and a 16-year-old juvenile were spotted by the resident at about 11:40 a.m. Friday as they tried to open a door to his home in the 1200 block of Elizabeth, Demick said. When they found it was locked, they moved on to a side window, at which point the victim yelled at them and they fled, he said.
The man ran outside to see the pair getting into a car just as a police car happened to be driving by, Demick said. He flagged him down, and the officer -- aided by an off-duty Will County sheriff's deputy who also happened to be passing by -- stopped their car about four blocks away, near Cora and Russell streets, and held them until more officers could assist in the arrest, he said.
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The car's driver, Christopher Guzman, 17, of 413 Catalpa, claimed he was unaware of the attempted break-in and said he did not know why his two friends wanted to stop at the house, Demick said. However, he was also arrested and charged with attempted residential burglary.
Bernal and Guzman were held in the Will County jail until posting $20,000 bond each Monday.
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