BREAKING: Mokena police release images of possible suspect in vehicle burglary
Incident on May 22 marks fourth vehicle burglary or theft in three days
Pictured is a still image taken from a home security camera that was released by the Mokena Police Department. Police believe it shows a possible suspect in a vehicle burglary that occurred in Mokena on May 22. PHOTO PROVIDED BY MOKENA POLICE DEPARTMENT
MOKENA, Ill.
Less than 48 hours after two cars were stolen and one was burglarized in Mokena, another vehicle burglary occurred Friday, May 22, in the Village.
This time, however, security cameras captured footage of a possible suspect.
Mokena police responded to the incident in the 9900 block of Giles Drive around 12:30 p.m. on May 22. Mokena Police Chief Steven Vaccaro said items were taken from the vehicle – which was parked inside the victim’s garage but was unlocked.
The obtained security video footage shows a suspect – a black male wearing a red Ohio State University hooded sweatshirt – exiting a black Hyundai Sante Fe and entering the victim’s open garage door. The suspect then entered the unlocked vehicle before eventually leaving the scene.
Pictured is a still image taken from a home security camera that was released by the Mokena Police Department. Police believe it shows a possible suspect in a vehicle burglary that occurred in Mokena on May 22. PHOTO PROVIDED BY MOKENA POLICE DEPARTMENT
Vaccaro said no other vehicle thefts or burglaries were reported on May 22. When asked if the May 22 report could be connected to the crimes from earlier in the week, he said the police department was looking into the possibility.
“That is something that we are definitely looking at,” Vaccaro said. “My detectives have got some information from the [crimes] on May 20, and they are in the process right now of comparing the two.”
On May 23, police released two images of the suspect. If residents have information about the suspect, Vaccaro asked that they call 911 or the police department’s investigations unit at 708-479-3912.
Vaccaro asked that residents not engage the individual.
“We believe they are dangerous, and if the resident engages, they may bring harm to themselves or potentially to an innocent bystander,” Vaccaro said. “If you have a suspicious subject or subjects [nearby] or you think you’ve been the victim of a burglary that just occurred, call 9-1-1.”
