Leland Boat Larceny Suspects Caught

A fifteen- and sixteen year-old could face charges after allegedly braking into ten boats in docked in the Leland Marina. Leelanau County Sheriff's Office identified two juveniles responsible for multiple larcenies from watercraft docked in the Leland Marina.

On Sunday afternoon, Leelanau County Sheriffs deputies responded to a report of a larceny in progress at the marina. The reporting party said they had chased two younger males away after the two had broken into their boat. One of the boys ran away, while the other jumped into the water to escape. The Sheriff's Office Marine Division, Leland Fire and Rescue and the U.S. Coast Guard responded to search, during which time tennis shoes and a sweatshirt were found in the water.

The search for the missing teen concluded at 5:10pm, when a witness contacted the Sheriff's deputies with information about the suspects. Apparently the suspect who fled into the water had shown up at a friends house and was taken home by the parent at that residence. This parent, upon later saw the emergency personnel at the Marina and contacted them. With this information deputies were able to identify the two juveniles and verify that they both were out of the water and safe.

Interviews with several victims of larcenies at the Marina Friday and Saturday nights and with the suspects and their parents revealed that ten different watercraft had been entered over the two nights and items taken. Most of the stolen items were returned to the owners. The suspects were left in the custody of their parents; information will be turned over to the prosecutor for review of possible charges.