McHenry County Blog

From Marengo resident Kristin Ottolino:

Please help our local business owner find this man who burglarized burglarized the Full Moon Saloon located at 22418 W. Grant Highway (Route 20) in Marengo. The burglary took place at 2:04 a.m. Tuesday, November 6th.

The Full Moon Saloon closed at 1:00 a.m. on the night of November 6th, 2012. At 2:04 a.m., the surveillance cameras detected this man breaking in through a window using a tire iron, and just a few minutes later, exiting the building.

In just a matter of minutes, he managed to find the 85 lb safe, get back to the window, pull out a barstool to set down the safe, climbed out the window, then reached back in to grab the safe before leaving.

The speed at which this burglary occurred seems to imply he had found what he was looking for with the greatest of ease. This information reveals that he knew exactly what to look for and how to find it.

The vehicle used in this burglary appeared to be a small truck.

Stolen from the lounge was approximately $6,000 in cash other valuables.

The owner of the Full Moon gave me full permission to write to our network with this information and is asking for your help.

This owner believes this burglary was not an inside job, but rather “someone close to those who know the bar.”
She provided the photographs above from her surveillance cameras, and I assured her that our network of over 200 citizens in the Marengo area would look closely to see if this “not so masked” man could be identified.

This thug is approximately 5′ 8″ tall.

He wasn’t smart enough to cover his face well with his mask, so he could easily be identified if you know him.

Please note the third photograph down, you can clearly see a crook in this man’s nose.

Keep in mind, infrared camera photographs have a tendency to appear brighter in color, less shadows appear on the face than normal. Further research shows that the infrared makes the face younger in appearance than it actually may be.

Also, according to the detective working this case, another bar in Hebron was burglarized this week on December 12th.

The burglar wore the same mask, same coat, tire iron and basically identical face. Please share this photo with as many people as possible and perhaps we can get this burglar identified and get him stopped.

If anyone has any information regarding this individual or about the incident, please call the McHenry County CrimeStoppers Tip Line at 800-762-7867, or the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office at 815-338-2144, or email: tipline@co.mchenry.il.us. Callers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest. CrimeStoppers does not use caller ID.

An email from Fox River Grove Police Chief Ron Lukasik:

“In following up on the residential burglaries in the Foxmoor Subdivision, the police department took a proactive approach during the subsequent investigation.

“A canvass of the area homes revealed six additional attempts or residential burglaries that had occurred.

“The police department has recovered several items that have not been claimed or identified by these victims.

“At this time it is believed that more burglaries may have occurred in the subdivision that have not been reported.

“We are asking residents to check their home for missing items such as jewelry, small tools and household items.

“If you have items missing and believe you may be a victim of one of these crimes, please contact Sgt. Domagala or Officer Eric Waitrovich at the police department 847-639-2411.

Based on entry points from the previously reported burglaries they will be able to verify whether entry was made to your residence.”

The original press release from the Fox River Grove Police can be found here.

A press release from the Crystal Lake Police:

Approximate location of Kelly Lane break-in.

On Monday, June 4th, 2012 at approximately 11:15 am, Crystal Lake Police responded to a residence in the 400 block of Kelly Lane, for a report of a burglary in progress.

According to a resident who was home at the time, a subject; described as a Caucasian male, 20-25 years of age, 5’6” – 5’10” tall with light brown hair, had made entry to the home and had been observed inside.

Sketh of Kelly Lane burglar.

Upon recognizing the home was not unoccupied, the suspect reportedly exited the home and fled on foot.Officers searched the area, but were unable to locate the suspect.

The resident was unharmed in this incident, and it is believed the offender may not have removed anything from the home as he was interrupted.

A composite of the suspect was created with the help of witnesses.

The Crystal Lake Police Department requests residents report any suspicious activity observed in their neighborhoods. The Department can be contacted 24 hours a day by the non-emergency number of 815 356-3620, or in an emergency, by dialing 911.

Anyone with a cell phone can now send an anonymous tip to Crystal Lake Police by texting the word CLPDTIP along with the tip information to 847411 (tip411).

Anonymous web tips can also be submitted at: http://www.citizenobserver.com/cov6/app/group.html?id=4930

The Fox River Grove Police has released videos of two car burglaries in the Hunters Farm and Foxmoor subdivisions.

Perhaps you can identify the guy.

Here is the press release:

Since April 26th, 2012, Fox River Grove Police Department has received twelve reported Burglary to Motor Vehicle incidents.

These incidents have been reported in the Hunters Farm and Foxmoor subdivisions. Items removed from the vehicles include electronics and credit cards and loose change.

Images below are of a suspect in one of the incidents in the Foxmoor subdivision.

Here’s another video:

These incidents appear to crimes of opportunity, as all the vehicle were left unlocked. Please make every effort to protect your belonging by bringing them into your home and locking your doors.

If you have any information to assist in solving these crimes or identifying the suspect, please contact Fox River Grove Police Department at 847-639-2411 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-762-7867.

A press release from the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office:

BURGLAR SENTENCED TO 4 YEARS IN PRISON

Louis A. Bianchi, McHenry County State’s Attorney, announces that Kitt Lechner, 28, of the City of McHenry was sentenced today to four years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for two counts of the Class 1 felony offense of Residential Burglary.

On June 4, 2011 and June 11, 2011, Kitt Lechner and his wife, Grace Wright burglarized several residences in the City of McHenry.

Also accompanying them for the residential burglaries were their two young children.

Items taken from the residences included

• jewelry,
• a watch and
• several coin containers.

Kitt Lechner was found in possession of some of the items taken, while others were unrecovered.

This case was investigated by the City of McHenry Police Department and was prosecuted by Assistant State’s Attorney Demetri Tsilimigras, Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division, and Assistant State’s Attorney Andrew Mueller.

A press release from the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office sent via Nixle:

Two Men Arrested For Residential Burglary and Theft in Unincorporated Algonquin

Sheriff Keith Nygren announced today the arrest of two men for the offense of Residential Burglary and Theft in unincorporated Algonquin Illinois.

On January 2, 2012 a resident in the 9700 block of Zimmer Drive, Algonquin, Illinois reported that while he was away, someone had unlawfully entered his residence and removed numerous items of electronics, jewelry, and currency.

The Sheriff’s Office Investigations Division developed information that two subjects, Ivan Suski and Tedi Vasili, were involved in this incident.

Several items belonging to the victim were recovered through follow up investigation.

On January 5, 2012 Ivan Suski was taken into custody, and Tedi Vasili was taken into custody on January 18, 2012.

Both were charged with Residential Burglary and Theft.

Ivan Suski remains incarcerated in the McHenry County Adult Correctional Facility, and Tedi Vasili is currently free on bond.

Sheriff Keith Nygren reminds residents that the Sheriff’s Office is available to conduct extra patrols to residences while the homeowners are away for extended periods of time.

The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office didn’t send out anything to notify the public that one of its SWAT Team members, Greg Pyle, was being sought for arrest for 10 counts of Predatory Criminal Sexual Abuse, but today I received the following from the office:

Fox Lake man arrested for string of Vehicle Burglaries in Unicorporated McHenry area

Sheriff Keith Nygren announced today that Justin A. Dawson (M/W 22) of Fox Lake, Illinois was arrested for several counts of burglary to motor vehicle and theft.

On January 9, 2012 at 01:47 A.M. members of the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 4900 block of Pistakee Drive in unincorporated McHenry for the report of a suspicious person going through several vehicles in the area.

Sheriff’s Deputies and Investigators developed information which identified Justin A. Dawson as a suspect. Dawson was subsequently interviewed and subsequent proceeds from the vehicles burglaries were recovered.

As a result of the investigation, Dawson was charged with three counts of burglary to motor vehicle and three counts of theft. On January 17, 2012 Justin turned himself into the McHenry County Adult Correctional Facility without incident.

The Sheriff’s Office reminds homeowners to properly secure their vehicles, use adequate lighting around their property, and consider using an alarm system to help deter criminal activity.

I just signed up for the 911 emergency notification system two days ago and got my first phone call today.

The phone rang at 9:44 PM with a message from the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office to tell me that at 8:13 a handcuffed male burglary suspect has escaped in the vicinity of Walkup (the McHenry Blacktop to Crystal Lake residents) and Hillside Road.

The suspect was wearing a camouflaged jacket and jeans with a black hood.

The Sheriff’s Department advised remaining “indoors until further notice.”

Since a relatively few households have probably signed up for the service, if you know anyone in the area, they might appreciate a phone call or an email.

The same message did not reach my email inbox.

You can sign up here.

Here’s what the Fox River Grove Police Department says about the robberies:

Fox River Grove Police investigating several burglaries

Sometime between the evening hours of 02-24-11 and the early hours of 02-25-11 multiple burglaries occurred in the 300 block of Northwest Highway.

This includes two stores

• A Tobacco Shop and
• The Bicycle Stop.

Also burglarized was an apartment.

Items taken include cash, electronics, tools, jewelry, bicycles and other miscellaneous items.

Here is the Crystal Lake Police report on the arrest in the September 21st break-in of the First Methodist Crystal at Dole and West Crystal Lake Avenues:

“On Friday, October 22, 2010 Crystal Lake Police arrested Jonathan L. Tully (M/W D.O.B. 09/17/1973), an area homeless man, for his alleged involvement with the burglary to the First United Methodist Church located at 236 W. Crystal Lake Ave., Crystal Lake.

“The burglary was initially reported to authorities during the early morning hours of September 21, 2010.

“Preliminary findings revealed that the church had been entered by force and that unknown offender(s) obtained control over two laptop computers belonging to the First United Methodist Church.

“Tully was developed as a possible suspect when some of his personal property was found adjacent to the church on the morning the burglary was reported.

“On Friday, October 22, 2010 Jonathan Tully was located by Crystal Lake Police at the local PADS site and was found to be in possession of one of the laptops reported as stolen by church officials.”

“Police reviewed their findings with the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office who approved criminal charges against Tully for

• one count of Burglary (Class 1 Felony) and
• 4 counts of Theft (2 Class 2 Felonies – having a prior conviction and 2 Class 4 Felonies intending to permanently deprive First United Methodist Church of the use of the property).

“Bond to be set by a Judge.”

= = = = =

That’s the police report.  Here’s the scuttlebutt:

The guy who broke in though Wesley Hall,  the room where the free Community Dinner is held each Sunday night, cut himself.  Blood was found in the church, as well as “some of his personal property,” as the press release says.

While two computers were stolen, one was reported abandoned near the Home State Bank downtown. It was the newer of the two.

The newer one had a GPS device that was traced to a Chicago residence.  A photo of a teen using it was taken by the camera on that computer, which had apparently been taken home by the father after being found near the bank.  A Facebook posting was made by the first teen’s sibling.

= = = = =

Finally, part of what Senior Pastor Steve Bullmer wrote to church members after the burglary:

As I prayed about what to do, I found myself praying The Lord’s Prayer.

When I got to, “Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us,” God said,

“Stop! Do you really mean what you just prayed?”

Was I actually asking God to forgive our trespasser? And I had to say,

“Yes, Lord. I really mean it.”

Pastor Steven Bullmer in the pulpit.

Now “forgiveness” does not mean “free pass.”

“Forgive and forget” is not in the Bible.

Forgiveness does not mean a miscarriage of justice.

But it does mean I have to relate to our trespasser as a child of God who needs healing and hope more than he or she needed those laptops.

Forgiveness means retribution and revenge are inappropriate responses from a Christian.

Forgiveness means I throw mercy at our trespasser, and I don’t “throw the book” at him.

Forgiveness means I try to find a way to say to him or her,

“Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more.”

This break-in is a test of our Christian character. Not cheap grace, but grace nevertheless.

God has sent us a lost person. Are we going to offer them Jesus, or a jail cell?

His whole email is here.