A Round Lake Beach man and a juvenile are in custody after stealing two cars and crashing one of them into a pond in Port Barrington in early September.
On September 7 at around 2:00 a.m., Lake County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a home in the 1200 block of Noble Drive in Port Barrington for a report of a vehicle in a pond. Sheriff’s deputies arrived and located a 2015 Chevrolet Equinox in the pond and determined it was stolen from the 300 block of Garrison Circle in Port Barrington, according to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities said that later the same morning, just before 5:00 a.m., Crystal Lake police officers responded to the Crystal Lake Walmart, 1205 South Route 31 in Crystal Lake, for a report of two suspicious people inside the Walmart. Crystal Lake police officers determined Bradley J. Tieman, 18, of the 1400 block of East End Avenue in Round Lake Beach, and a male juvenile entered the Walmart in wet clothing. The two used a stolen credit card to purchase dry clothing, then went to the store’s restroom to change into the dry clothes.
Officials said that further investigation revealed that Tieman and the juvenile drove a stolen Jeep Wrangler to the Walmart. The Jeep was taken from the 21900 block of West Washington Street in unincorporated Gurnee, sheriff’s officials said.
Tieman and the male juvenile were arrested by Crystal Lake police officers and Lake County Sheriff’s detectives responded to the scene. Further investigation by Lake County Sheriff’s detectives revealed that Tieman and the juvenile were responsible for stealing the Chevrolet Equinox and driving it into the pond. They were also responsible for stealing the Jeep, officials said.
Tieman was charged in McHenry County with possession of a stolen vehicle (Class 2 felony), identity theft (Class 4 felony), and theft (Class A misdemeanor).
On September 22, Lake County Sheriff’s detectives obtained an arrest warrant, with a $100,000 bond, for burglary (Class 2 felony), unlawful possession of a stolen vehicle (Class 2 felony), and theft (Class 3 felony) for Tieman. He currently remains held in the McHenry County Jail on the McHenry County charges, authorities said.
The juvenile will be petitioned to the Lake County Juvenile Justice System for burglary (Class 2 felony), unlawful possession of a stolen vehicle (Class 2 felony), and theft (Class 3 felony).
The ignition keys to the Chevrolet and Jeep were left inside of both vehicles, according to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
Lake County Sheriff Curran said in a statement that he wants to remind the community to remove valuables from your vehicles, lock your doors, and take your keys with you.