3rd Member Of Teen Burglary Trio Turns Self In: Plainfield Police

PLAINFIELD, IL — A Montgomery teenager who turned herself in this week is the third member of a trio of teen car burglars, Plainfield police said. Brittany Coldwate, 18, of the 0-100 block of Fernwood Road, turned herself in Wednesday on four counts of burglary connected to a series of vehicle break-ins in the village, Plainfield Detective Sgt. Kevin McQuaid said.

Coldwate, along with Charles Franz and Zarius Karanjia, also 18, were wanted in connection with at least three car burglaries in Plainfield, according to McQuaid.

Plainfield police reports show that Coldwate and Karanjia were initially arrested Nov. 14, the day the burglaries occurred. At that time, Coldwate was arrested on charges of illegal transportation of alcohol, improper lane use, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of stolen property, according to arrest reports. Karanjia was charged with illegal possession of alcohol by a minor and possession of stolen property. Both were released pending an investigation into the burglaries, McQuaid said.

A Plainfield arrest report lists a Yorkville address for Karanjia, but Will County jail records show an address in the 1700 block of Stanton Lane in Plainfield. He was booked into the Will County jail Dec. 3 on a total of six counts of burglary, plus possession of a stolen vehicle in connection with a Joliet Police Department case. During a court appearance a day later, his bond was set at $100,000. Jail records indicate Karanjia remains in custody.

All three are charged with four counts of burglary in connection with the Nov. 14 vehicle incidents in Plainfield. McQuaid said the trio is accused of stealing golf clubs, a GPS and charging cables — "whatever they could grab," he said. All the vehicles targeted in the Nov. 14 burglaries were unlocked.

Franz, of the 1200 block of Hampton Court, was also arrested twice by Joliet police on Nov. 27. The first time around, police said a woman caught him breaking into her vehicle in the LA Fitness parking lot on Route 59.

"He asked her not to call the police," Joliet's Deputy Chief of Police Ed Gregory told Patch, saying she called 911 anyway. Police said Franz fled, but officers tracked him down at his Hampton Court home and arrested him. He was ultimately released on an I-bond, but didn't remain free for long.

The same afternoon, Joliet police said Franz showed up at a home in the 25000 block of Caton Farm Road, peered into the windows and examined the outside doors. Joliet detectives, who were keeping an eye on him, saw him kick in a door and enter the home, Gregory said. Police said he began stealing items inside the home, all while the homeowner was upstairs.

Franz allegedly tried to flee again as police approached, but was re-arrested at around 2:30 that afternoon and taken to the Will County jail. In addition to the four felony burglary charges stemming from the Nov. 14 Plainfield case, he faces two counts of residential burglary in the Joliet case.

Will County jail records indicate Coldwate and Franz also remain in custody. His bond is set at $175,000, while hers is $50,000.

Main image: Brittany Coldwate/all photos via Will County Sheriff's Office