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2 teens charged in gun theft

By NICOLE HUTCHESON
Published March 22, 2007

CLEARWATER - Two teens were arrested and charged with burglary Tuesday after police got a tip that the youngsters were selling stolen guns.

Detectives were led to a 15-year-old and a 17-year-old after investigating the burglary Monday of a home in the Wood Valley area between State Road 590 and Drew Street.

More than 20 guns were stolen, including rifles, at least one handgun and pellet guns. More than $3,000 worth of jewelry was taken as well, according to authorities.

While Clearwater detectives worked on the burglary, they received a tip that a 17-year-old was selling guns from the trunk of a car. Detectives began drawing a connection between the teens and the burglary.

"They let the word out that they had firearms for sale," said Clearwater police Detective Steve Corrao. "The word spread."

Both youngsters lived near the home that was burglarized and knew the owners, Corrao said.

Police withheld the teens' names Wednesday because the investigation is still under way. The 15-year-old attends Countryside High School, and the 17-year-old is a former student at the school.

They are not related, authorities said.

After getting the tip, detectives began surveillance of the teens, with 20 law enforcement officials, including undercover officers, on the case.

The teens were arrested at 7 p.m. Tuesday while both were at the 17-year-old's home. While there, officers found a rifle under the teen's bed.

After interrogation, police were led to the 15-year-old's home, where they were told another stash of guns was located.

The younger teens' parents allowed officers to search the home. They found five guns, including rifles and a shotgun, under his mattress.

They also found a bag of 16 guns buried in a 1-foot-deep hole in the back yard next to a shed. The hole was covered with a wood plank and a lawn mower.

"If someone was to get that bag, we're talking about a serious situation," said Clearwater police Detective Sgt. John Zegzdryn.

Each teen faces a felony charge, police said. The 17-year-old was charged with armed burglary, and the 15-year-old was charged as an accessory to that crime.

Twenty-one of the 23 stolen guns have been recovered, Corrao said. A loaded handgun was still unaccounted for.

Nicole Hutcheson can be reached at nhutcheson@sptimes.com or 727 445-4162.

[Last modified March 21, 2007, 23:21:25]