Joliet Teen Charged In Unlocked Car Burglary Where Gun Was Swiped

ORLAND PARK, IL -- A Joliet teen driving a vehicle that was used in a car burglary was arrested after police discovered that a juvenile passenger had swiped a gun from an unlocked vehicle in Orland Park, prosecutors said. Nicolette Watt, 18, appeared before Cook County Judge Peter Felice on a felony charge of burglary to a motor vehicle. She was also charged with three misdemeanor counts of unlawful use of a weapon.

According to the charges, Watt and her juvenile companions were trolling the 11200 block of Twin Lakes Drive during the overnight hours of July 24 and July 25. A juvenile riding in Watt’s car jumped out and stole a gun from an unlocked vehicle. Watts was later pulled over in a traffic stop where Orland Park police officers found the stolen gun in the back seat where the juvenile had been sitting, the prosecutor said. Two more guns were found in Watts’ vehicle, including a black Ruger 40-caliber under the front seat and an extended magazine loaded with 14 rounds. The prosecutor said it is not known where the other guns came from or if they had been reported stolen.

“You wonder why we have a gun problem here,” Felice said.

The prosecutor said that Watts had recently pleaded guilty to a receipt of stolen goods charge in Will County, for which she received supervision.

The assistant public defender told the judge that Watts recently graduated from high school and works at KFC. She is due to enter college in the fall.

“You have no business riding around with guns,” Felice said. “What if someone gets shot and killed and you’re driving the car, do you know you can be charged with murder?”

Watts was released on a $50,000 I-bond. Her next court date on the felony car burglary charge is Aug.16. Watts was also given a $20,000 I-bond for the misdemeanor gun charges and has to be back in court Aug. 30. The judge also ordered pre-trial monitoring.

“I want to keep an eye on her,” Felice said.