Teens Caught After Two Early‑Morning Store Break‑Ins

Two 14‑year‑old boys were taken into custody after police linked them to two early‑morning break‑ins near Bradley University and downtown Peoria. The arrests happened on Tuesday, following alarms that rang around 3:40 a. and 4:07 a.m. The teens were found hiding at a house on West John H. Gwynn Jr. Avenue, and one tried to run when officers arrived.

The first stop was Vape Time, located in the 1000 block of West Main Street. Officers arrived to find the front door glass shattered, but the interior remained untouched. The store’s alarm had triggered, yet no one had actually entered the premises.

A short time later, Bazzar Tobacco in the 3300 block of North Sterling Avenue suffered a similar fate. The glass on its front door was broken, and the suspects got inside before speeding away in a car. Police later tracked the pair to a residence, where they were caught after one attempted to flee on foot.

Both boys now face multiple charges. They are accused of attempted burglary, committing a business burglary with property damage, and possessing a stolen vehicle. One of them also had an outstanding warrant. The juveniles were placed in the Peoria County Juvenile Detention Center.