INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — A 15-year-old suspected of climbing through a partly open window before stealing $1,000 and an unloaded shotgun from a home, was arrested Thursday, reports show.
Deputies arrested the Vero Beach teen on charges of armed residential burglary, grand theft and unlawful possession of firearm by a minor. It is unclear if the teen was being held at the Indian River County Jail or taken to a juvenile detention center.
Indian River County sheriff’s deputies responded to reports of a burglary about 9:30 p.m. Tuesday in the 9700 block of 85th Street in north county. The victim told deputies he returned home from work earlier that day and noticed his Blackwater 12-gauge shotgun worth $400 and $1,000 in cash were missing, reports show.
The victim said the home was secure before he left.
Deputies searched the residence and found a window in the master bedroom was partly open. Deputies began to search for the 15-year-old after receiving information that he had a shotgun similar to the victim’s stolen firearm, reports show.
Deputies on Thursday found the teen in the front passenger seat of a Ford Explorer traveling south in the 9700 block of 130th Avenue, Fellsmere. Deputies then saw what appeared to be the stolen shotgun between the front passenger seat and middle console.
Deputies showed the victim a picture of the firearm. The victim positively identified the weapon as the shotgun stolen from his home, reports show.
Deputies arrested the teenager. No further information was available.
