“CAT BURGLARS” ARRESTED IN
NORTH SUBURBS
Thursday, May 7, 2009 — Charges are pending against a senior citizen and his 50 year-old nephew, who police say used night vision goggles and other stealth means to carry out a string of burglaries in the northeast suburbs, announced the office of Cook County Sheriff Thomas J. Dart.
The two were arrested on April 25th, after which search warrants were executed on their vehicles and residences, resulting in the recovery of hundreds of items, such as jewelry, silverware, and silver service pieces. Also recovered were pawn shop receipts indicating the sale of the same type of items.
The 75 year-old individual and his nephew, who are from Highland Park and Evergreen Park, respectively, are suspected of committing at least 19 burglaries over the past 22 months. They would commit their crimes in the overnight hours by parking their vehicle at an inconspicuous location in or near the neighborhood they were targeting. Dressed in camouflage clothing and using night vision equipment, they would walk through the residential neighborhoods, targeting homes. Quietly entering the homes while the occupants were asleep, they would steal items, such as cash, jewelry, and silverware.
Residents in the northeast suburbs are encouraged to check their homes to make sure they can account for all their jewelry, silverware and other valuable, but not regularly used items. If they believe they may be a victim of the cat burglars, they should contact the Cook County Sheriff’s Police Department at (847) 635-1188.
Sheriff Dart thanked the detectives on the Task Force who worked so diligently to arrest these individuals. The Task Force is comprised of detectives from the Cook County Sheriff’s Police and several suburban departments, including the Glencoe, Glenview, Highland Park, Kenilworth, Northbrook, Northfield Wilmette and Winnetka police departments.