Car Burglar Trapped Inside by Neighbors

The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office has arrested an 18-year-old suspect for vehicle burglary after he reportedly was caught in the act by a neighbor.

A man on Lahania Drive in Sarasota called 9-1-1 at around 10:00 p.m. Tuesday to say that he and another man were holding the 18-year-old suspect inside a vehicle he had been burglarizing.

Deputies arrived and arrested Austin Pokornik of Bali Drive, Sarasota.

The man told deputies that he was awakened by his barking dog and saw Pokornik try the door handles of different vehicles in his neighborhood and entering those that were unlocked.

He told deputies that he and a neighbor contained the suspect in one of the cars he broke into until deputies could arrive.

Pokornik is charged with two counts of Burglary, four counts of Attempted Burglary, four counts of Possession of Burglary Tools.

He is also charged with violating his curfew, which was a condition of his probation for a prior burglary arrest.