SPRING HILL, Fla. -- Hernando County deputies arrested a middle schooler in connection with seven vehicle burglaries in the area of Berkley Manor in Spring Hill on Aug. 17.
- 12-year-old arrested in connection to seven vehicle burglaries
- Burglaries occurred in Spring Hill on Aug. 17
- Gun stolen from one of the vehicles
Detectives were able to identify the 12-year-old from surveillance video. When detectives made contact with the pre-teen, he initially told detectives that he didn't steal anything and that he was just looking. He later admitted to removing a black zippered case from one of the vehicles and didn't realize there was a gun inside until he got home.
The boy said he didn't want to get in trouble so he gave the gun to his 15-year-old brother who, according to the 12-year-old, traded the gun to another teenager for a watch.
Officials said the boy's brother denied ever having possession of the gun or trading it for a watch, however, when detectives questioned the other 15-year-old male, he admitted hiding the gun under his bed and said he didn't know the gun was stolen when he traded a watch for it.
Detectives were able to recover the stolen gun.
The 12-year-old who stole the gun was charged with seven counts of conveyance burglary and one count of armed burglary to a conveyance.
The boy's 15-year-old brother was charged with dealing in stolen property.
Charges against the third individual are pending.