An organized group of career criminals operating throughout the Chicago area appears to be responsible for the series of daytime burglaries in Sun City in recent months.
Huntley police investigators recently announced that there has been a “substantial break” in the Sun City investigation.
“We have been actively investigating this group that has been linked to numerous crimes throughout the Chicago metropolitan area,” said Sgt. Linda Hooten, a member of the Investigations Unit of the Huntley Police. “We have been able to link this group to some of the break-ins in Sun City, primarily through evidence collected at the scenes of the break-ins. All units of our department, especially our patrol personnel, and many other police agencies, are participating in this investigation.”
She said the investigation is ongoing and declined to provide additional details.
In a community alert earlier this month, Sgt. Michael Hewitt, another investigator, said:
“While investigating these incidents, we have collected numerous pieces of evidence, completed neighborhood canvasses, and followed up with pawn shops and storefronts that purchase precious metals. In addition, many suspicious person/vehicle reports made by concerned residents have been investigated.”
In addition to more than a dozen break-ins that have occurred during daylight hours at Sun City homes during the past year, a few incidents of vandalism at some homes have been reported in recent weeks. Police say all the burglaries have happened while the homeowners were away, have involved the theft of cash and jewelry, and have been made by forced entry to the houses through doors and windows. Authorities add that there appears to be no connection among the victims.
Police ask that Sun City residents be alert to individuals that appear to be between 25 and 35 years old, male and female persons walking in the area that appear out of place, female subjects wearing large, long skirts, subjects carrying small canvas-type bags, young persons driving slowly through neighborhoods, subjects being picked up on the roadway after walking on the sidewalk, subjects that approach residents and begin random conversations, and vehicles parked in the area that appear out of place. Subjects wearing heavy coats in warm weather also may be suspicious, police say.
