A man was arrested Wednesday after he tried to steal a $2.5 million plane from Ocala International Airport because "he needed to go to Chicago," police said.
Ocala police responded around 7:40 p.m. to the airport in reference to a man, later identified 23-year-old Juan Pablo Ceron, trying to gain access to a Landmark Aviation hangar.
When police arrived, a member of the ground crew said he found Ceron inside the hanger. The ground crew member told police that Ceron couldn't provide proper identification and also noticed the airplane had been tampered with.
Ceron initially gave police a false name, a report states. He also claimed the own the plane.
Police found between $200 and $300 in damages to the plane, including oxygen masks pulled down, life vests inflated, tube covers and propeller ties removed. The safety blocks were also removed from the wheels, police said.
Ceron, who refused to speak with police, was arrested on two counts of burglary, attempted grand theft, giving a false name to law enforcement and criminal mischief.
The FBI was notified of the incident because it's an international airport.
Ceron was taken to the Marion County Jail, where he was being held Thursday on $51,000.