Crime & Safety
Alsip Pair Charged in Home Invasion, Thanksgiving Burglary
The Cook County State's Attorney's Office has approved charges against an Alsip couple suspected in a rash of home invasions and burglaries over the past several months.
Two Alsip residents being held in DuPage County were formally charged Thursday with home invasion and burglary for two incidents in Palos Heights in October and on Thanksgiving, said Palos Heights Police Chief Larry Yott.
Mark Stanko, 26, and Tracy Denell, 28, were arrested earlier this month by Palos Heights police and members of the South Suburban Major Case Unit and the DuPage County Sheriff’s Office after a six-week investigation.
On Thursday, the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office approved home invasion charges in connection with an incident on Oct. 26 in the 12300 block of Pine Place and burglary charges for a Thanksgiving Day burglary in the 12400 block of 71st Avenue.
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In the home invasion, an 80-year-old woman was sprayed with a chemical substance after in intruder forced his way into the home. Jewelry was taken from an upstairs bedroom.
In the Thanksgiving Day incident, a family returned home and found a large amount of change, rare coins and jewelry had been taken.
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A search of Stanko and Denell’s home in Alsip turned up proceeds from both incidents, police said.
Bail for Stanko was set at $750,000 and for Denell was set at $500,000. Both are being held in DuPage County Jail on charges stemming from a home invasion in unincorporated Willowbrook on Nov. 2.
The duo is suspected in at least three other area home invasions, Palos Heights Det. Gerard Wodka said. They are suspected of crimes in unincorporated Palos Heights, Alsip, and Oak Lawn, Wodka said.
Their next court date is Jan. 19 in DuPage County.
