Two masked suspects, an 18-year-old from Winter Haven and a 13-year-old boy, were arrested after detectives say they slipped through the Whisper Lakes neighborhood of Jan Phyl Village in the early hours of July 22 and broke into two vehicles, walking away with about $550 from two wallets. Investigators say they identified the pair a few days after the break-ins, and both are now staring down multiple felony counts. According to deputies, the 13-year-old was already on felony probation when the alleged crimes took place.
Arrests and charges
According to Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, detectives identified 18-year-old Garrett Courtney of Winter Haven and the 13-year-old as the two masked suspects in the July 22 burglaries in Whisper Lakes. Judd said both were arrested and booked on two counts of burglary of a conveyance, two counts of felony petit theft and one count of conspiracy to commit burglary. Because detectives say the pair wore masks, each of those charges was enhanced by one degree under state law.
Judd added that Courtney also faces a charge of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and that the younger suspect was already on felony probation at the time of the incident. Deputies put the total value of the stolen items at about $550.
Where it happened
The break-ins unfolded in the Whisper Lakes section of Jan Phyl Village, a Winter Haven area that has been on the sheriff's radar in prior vehicle-burglary investigations. Records from the Polk County Sheriff's Office show multiple car-burglary arrests and investigations in the Jan Phyl area over the past two years, including a string of car-burglary arrests reported last fall.
Legal implications
Florida law sets the framework for the charges the pair is facing. Burglary offenses are detailed in the Florida Senate materials on Chapter 810, while theft and petit-theft thresholds are laid out by the Florida Legislature in Section 812.014. The allegation that Courtney contributed to the delinquency of a minor falls under provisions in Chapter 827, which is also addressed on the Florida Legislature site.
Prosecutors will decide whether to formally file felony charges based on the sheriff's reports, and the courts would weigh the 13-year-old's probation status if the case moves ahead.
What residents can do
The sheriff's office is again urging residents in Jan Phyl Village and across Winter Haven to keep vehicles locked, remove valuables from sight and call in suspicious activity before it snowballs into another rash of break-ins. Tipsters who prefer to stay anonymous can reach out through Heartland Crime Stoppers, where investigators are still taking information related to the July 22 burglaries.
