Park Forest, IL-(ENEWSPF)- An officer patrolling on Sauk Trail on March 23 observed a van stopped near Orchard Drive facing eastbound in the right lane. The vehicle appeared to be having mechanical difficulties, so the officer pulled behind the van and activated his emergency lights. The vehicle then sped off, turning south on Orchard Drive and then west on Marquette Street, according to police. The vehicle stopped on Marquette Street near Nassau Street, according to police. Inside were six juveniles.
Due to the fact that the juvenile driver had more passengers than allowed in the vehicle due to his age, the officer asked permission to search the vehicle. Police also say that several of the passengers in the van were known burglars. Other officers arrived on the scene.
Inside the van, police found six rounds of shotgun shells, a Vivitar digital camera, a 32-inch flat-screen television, a 19-inch flat-screen television, a Dell laptop computer, and 12 small individual Ziploc baggies containing a green leafy substance, suspect cannabis. Police also found a pillow case containing miscellaneous items of jewelry.
The six juveniles, three from Park Forest and three from Crete, were arrested and charged March 24 with possession of stolen property and possession of cannabis. According to police, one of the juveniles admitted stealing a couple of televisions, a laptop computer, and some jewelry from a house in Crete. Police say the items were taken from a residence in the 700 block of First Street in Crete.
Police say one of the other juveniles told them that they wanted to see if they could take some things from a house when no one was at home.
