Crime & Safety
La Porte County, IN Burglary: 3 Teens Arrested Wednesday Morning
La Crosse, IN – Three teenagers were arrested Wednesday morning after an alleged burglary and vandalism incident at the historic 'Tiger Den' in La Crosse, prompting a swift investigation by La Porte C
By Nora Whitfield · 2026-11-04T20:06:55.094Z
La Crosse, IN – Three teenagers were arrested Wednesday morning after an alleged burglary and vandalism incident at the historic 'Tiger Den' in La Crosse, prompting a swift investigation by La Porte County sheriff 's deputies.
According to the La Porte County Sheriff's Office, the incident began around 3:45 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 4, when the La Crosse Volunteer Fire Department responded to a fire alarm at the Tiger Den, located at 11 N. Michigan St.
Upon arrival, firefighters discovered that someone had entered the building and requested assistance from law enforcement.
Historic Building Found Vandalized
Deputy Jon Sikorski responded and was directed to several areas inside the building that had reportedly been vandalized.
Investigators reviewed surveillance footage that captured images of three individuals believed to be involved in the incident.
By approximately 8:30 a.m., authorities had identified all three suspects.
Less than two hours later, deputies located and detained the juveniles at three separate locations.
Three Juveniles Face Criminal Charges
The Sheriff's Office identified the arrested individuals only by their ages: 14, 16 and 17.
Each juvenile was arrested on allegations of burglary, a Level 5 felony, and criminal vandalism, a Class A misdemeanor.
All three were transported to the La Porte County Sheriff's Office before being transferred to the Juvenile Services Center.
Multiple Agencies Assist Investigation
The investigation involved several sheriff's deputies and detectives, with assistance from the Porter County Sheriff's Office.
Authorities did not disclose the extent of the damage to the historic building or provide an estimated repair cost.
The arrests came within hours of the initial fire alarm, which led to the discovery of the alleged break in.
The charges remain accusations, and all three juveniles are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.