BLOOMINGTON - Two 14-year-olds were arrested inside a closed, fenced-in area of Miller Park early Friday, just over 24 hours after a police dog helped subdue a teen burglary suspect inside the park's zoo.

The Bloomington teens were arrested about 1:20 a.m. as foot-patrol officers spotted them climbing a fence out of the park's miniature golf course, said police spokesman Duane Moss. They faced preliminary charges of curfew violation and criminal trespass to state-supported property. They were released into parents' custody, Moss said.

On Wednesday, the police dog was used to subdue the Bloomington teen after a park officer spotted a burglary in progress around 9 p.m., the third burglary of the zoo in a week, Moss said.

The officer saw at least one suspect inside the closed zoo, 1020 S. Morris Ave., Moss said. He saw someone apparently heading toward the main building, where the gift shop is located, Moss said.

The 14-year-old ran into the police dog during a search of a zoo building, he said. The dog grabbed onto the suspect's leg and upper inner thigh, but the officer reported the animal grabbed mostly clothing, Moss said.

The teen was taken to OSF St. Joseph Medical Center, but he did not appear to have serious injuries, Moss said. He faced preliminary charges of burglary.

Other break-ins

Moss said it's too early to say whether the teen is also a suspect in the other two break-ins, on May 6 and again Tuesday. All three were reported between 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. The zoo closes at 4:30 p.m.

On May 6, a rock was used to break glass on the gift shop door. Some cash was stolen from a bank bag in the zoo's main office, Moss said.

On Tuesday, the park officer found a broken glass door on the south side of the gift shop and a broken window. Some jewelry, candy and a small amount of cash was stolen from the gift shop, he said.

A search aided by police dog failed to turn up a suspect in both incidents.

A second suspect in Wednesday's burglary has not been found, and nothing was reported stolen.

A message left at the Miller Park Zoo was not returned.