Park Forest, IL—(ENEWSPF)— An officer followed a trail behind homes on East Rocket Circle to discover merchandise stolen from a home just a few doors away.
On Friday, May 23, at 6:24 p.m., Officer Joe Butler was dispatched to the first block of East Rocket Circle regarding a burglary that had just been discovered. Butler spoke with the resident who related that when he arrived home at approximately 6:00 p.m., he found that an unknown person or persons had broken into his home through a bedroom window and stole a 32-inch HDTV valued at $688, a portable DVD player valued at $200, and a number of other items.
Officer Butler noted the damaged bedroom window frame. Corporal Strahla responded and processed the scene, taking several digital photographs. A large plastic dust cover that had been on the washing machine was also missing. A backdoor had been kicked open. It appeared that the offender(s) exited through a back door, using the dust cover to conceal the television, according to police.
Police began searching the wooded area that follows the backyards of the homes on East Rocket Circle. Officer Butler asked a bartender at Tattlers on South Orchard Drive if he had seen anyone walking through the parking lot with a television or anything else suspicious. He responded that he did not. Butler returned to the wooded area and followed the possible path that the offender or offenders could have used, as it appeared that they avoided the front of the residences, according to police. Officer Butler began to see plant shrubbery and broken branches that appeared to have been recently disturbed.
A partial shoe print was discovered in the muck behind one of the residences. As Officer Butler continued to follow the trail south, he found a flatscreen television in the backyard of another house on East Rocket Circle. It was wrapped in the washing machine dustcover. Officer Butler radioed for Corporal Strahla to respond. Butler radioed for additional units to respond. Officers Elliot, Hoskins and DeVries responded.
Police took several subjects into custody for questioning. Two juveniles were arrested. One was charged with residential burglary, charges are pending on the other. Charges are pending against three adults while police await results from the Illinois State Crime Lab.
