44-year-old Michael Fritz

A Lake County Sheriff’s Office police dog helped track down a burglary suspect Thursday evening in Lake Villa Township, authorities said.

Police were called to a home in the 20800 block of West Siena Drive in Lake Villa Township for a burglary in progress. Police said that the homeowner called 911 after he saw a man breaking into his camper which was parked on the side of his residence.

The suspect fled before police arrived. A perimeter was setup and Deputy Forlenza and his K-9 partner Dax were called to assist in locating the suspect, officials said.

Police K-9 Dax

K-9 Dax tracked the scent of the burglar for a quarter-mile to an outbuilding in the 20700 block of West Verona Avenue in Lake Villa Township, according to authorities.

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office said that Michael Fritz, 44, who has no permanent address, was arrested and transported to the Lake County Jail. He was charged with one count of residential burglary, which is a class 1 felony.

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Fritz remains held at the Lake County Jail pending an initial court hearing.

“This is another example of how important our Lake County Sheriff’s Canine Teams are in keeping Lake County Safe. Deputy Forlenza and Dax did an outstanding job locating another individual fleeing from a crime. This incident shows great teamwork from members of the Sheriff’s Office and surrounding police departments,” Sheriff Mark Curran said.