'Suspicious' Teens In Wet Clothes At Walmart Linked To Car Heist: Police

LAKE COUNTY, IL – Two teens face several charges for stealing two vehicles and crashing one of the vehicles, a 2015 Chevrolet Equinox, into a pond in Port Barrington earlier this month. Authorities were able to link the duo to the crimes after store employees at a Walmart in Crystal Lake called the local police department to report two suspicious people wearing wet clothing inside the store, according to a news release from the Lake County Sheriff's Office. The teens then purchased dry clothing using a stolen credit card and changed in the store's restroom.

Authorities responded at about 5 a.m. on Sept. 7 and determined the teens drove a stolen Jeep Wrangler to the Walmart, 1205 South Route 31 in Crystal Lake. The Jeep was taken from a residence in the 21900 block of West Washington Street in unincorporated Gurnee, according to the news release.

Just three hours earlier, deputies were called to a home in the 1200 block of Noble Drive in Port Barrington for a report of a vehicle in a pond. They found the 2015 Chevrolet Equinox in the water and determined it was stolen from the 300 block of Garrison Circle in Port Barrington.

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In both cases, the keys for the vehicles were left in the ignition when those vehicles were stolen, police said.

Police arrested Bradley J. Tieman, 18, of the 1400 block of East End Avenue in Round Lake Beach, and a 16-year-old North Chicago boy at the Walmart.

Tieman has been charged in McHenry County with possession of a stolen vehicle, identity theft and theft. This past week, authorities obtained a $100,000 arrest warrant for Tieman's arrest in Lake County on charges of burglary, unlawful possession of stolen vehicle and theft.

Tieman remains in custody at the McHenry County Jail. His bond has been set at $2,000 in the McHenry County case.

The juvenile will be petitioned to the Lake County Juvenile Justice System on charges of burglary, unlawful possession of a stolen vehicle and theft.

Following the car heists, Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran is reminding residents to remove valuable from vehicles, lock vehicles doors and to be sure to take your keys with you.

Photo Caption: Bradley Tiemen/Photo credit: Lake County Sheriff's Office