14-Year-Old Repeat Offender Evaded Electronic Ankle Bracelet

Flossmoor police say a 14-year-old boy’s electronic monitor failed on the afternoon of Oct. 29 when he left his home to rob his neighbor’s.

He was charged as a juvenile with attempted residential burglary and criminal damage to property, police said. He's accused of kicking in the front door of a home in the 2900 block of Alexander Court and rummaging through bottles of alcohol and bank checks.

The homeowner's daughter told police she was watching television on the second floor around noon when she heard a loud noise below. She thought it was her father but eventually peaked downstairs and locked eyes with a teenage boy, who turned and walked out, police said.

Based on the girl’s description, officers went to the boy’s home one block over to question him. Although the girl was unable to confidently identify the burglar, having seen him for only a second, the boy was taken into custody for further questioning at the , where he admitted to the crime, police said.

Police also collected several fingerprints from the items and have sent them to the Illinois State Crime lab.

The homeowner told police that the boy had come to his house a day prior to ask for a ride to the mall. He said he was out shopping with the boy’s mother at the time of the attempted burglary. Police said the boy likely took the opportunity to break in while he believed no one was home.

Deputy Chief Michael Pulec said his detectives are looking into why the electronic bracelet failed when the boy left his home. He was recently placed under home arrest for his involvement in several car burglaries in Flossmoor, Pulec said.