Two Chicago men believed to a part of a , were charged Thursday.
Tyrone Hughes, 22, of the 4100 block of South Prairie and Christopher J. Carter, 20, of the 600 block of block of West Vermont are charged with possession of stolen property. Additional charges of residential burglary and unlawful use of a weapon are pending, police said.
The two men are suspected in Palos Heights burglaries from Sept. 13 and Oct. 1, said Palos Heights Detective Tim Holder. Investigators believe Gangster Disciples based in the Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood are operating a type of ruse burglary operation in the suburbs. Burglars drive around in white pickup truck with lawnmowers. They then knock on the front door of a home and offer to cut the grass if anyone answers. Otherwise, they break into the house.
“In one case, they started to cut the grass even though no one was home,” Holder said.
Read: Police Investigating Burglary of Palos Heights Home
The earliest of the three Palos Heights burglaries happened on Sept. 13 in the 12200 block of Flambeau. Witnesses told police they saw a white, full-sized pickup truck in the area with what appeared to be frame racks. Officers now believe those were actually lawnmower handlebars rising up out of the truck’s bed.
Two more residential burglaries were reported on Oct. 1, one in the 19100 block and the other in the 12400 block of 69th Court.
On Tuesday, Palos Heights police stopped a white pickup in the 12200 block of Cheyenne Drive. Police said they saw a jewelry box in the truck’s bed and several pieces of jewelry inside the cab. The driver, Carter, was carrying a replica 9mm pellet gun in his coat pocket.
Both Carter and Hughes, who also was in the truck, were arrested, police said. Officers obtained a search warrant and found, among other things, a loaded nine-shot revolver inside the truck.
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Several of the found items came from an Oct. 2 burglary in Frankfort, Holder said. Among them were the driver’s license and a lock of hair from a deceased relative of the victim. Frankfort police have taken both men into custody, where they are already charged with residential burglary.
The pair now are awaiting a formal hearing on the Frankfort charges in the Will County Adult Detention Facility.
The larger gang crew is suspected in burglaries as far north as Elmhurst, Holder said. In the south suburbs, Palos Heights police have coordinated with investigators from the Cook County Sheriff’s Office and police from Orland Park and Hickory Hills in recent days over burglaries with similar elements to the ones that happened in Palos Heights. Two other men who police believe are connected were arrested in Midlothian several weeks ago.
Burglars are targeting homes at times they know people won't be there, Holder said.
Police advise residents not to let anyone in they don’t know and to report any suspicious activity in their neighborhood.
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This would be helpful not just for potential gangbangers, but for the geniuses the newspapers send out during dinnertime trying to sell me a subscription to a paper I already get.
I guess a bank being robbed is more scary that an online predetor raping your kids...
Have you taken a look at any of the towns they've over run, Roseland, Riverdale, Harvey, Robbins, Dolton, etc etc? Forgive me if I would like to not raise children and live in that!!
If you read all of the posts you would see that a neighborhood watch was suggested, that it was asked by our community to come together rather than argue with each other. Calling names solves nothing. If you have ideas this is an opportunity to express them. A pompous attitude solves no issues, it creates animosity among people who should be working together. I myself have never organized something of this fashion. If someone has please let us know the best way to go about it.
A neighborhood watch is a great idea Liz. I would love to get involved in planning and organizing that. Apoarently Bob likes the idea of getting his door kicked in because of gangbangers who drove from englewood to Palos Heights to rob innocent people who work for what they have so we probably shouldn't ask him to be on the committee!!
My guesss is Liz may not want you at her meeting, well I at least hope not. However, If you wait til after holloween, your ghost costumes will be on sale for your meetings. Will you be an Imperial Wizard or Just a Gouhl for your first meeting? Hope those animals don't all "migrate" to Palos anytime soon... Sure would hate to see you move out... So you a Bears fan?
I agree with BH... Put on your hood and actually stand up for what you believe in...
I think a more culturally diverse town would be better suited for you Bob. I am thinking that a town that is 96.39% white isn't a good choice for you. It is however a good choice for me abd my family so we shall stay. Don't let the door hit you on the way out!
"If you don't like the idea of that go move to englewood with Chicago's finest citizens or maybe you already live there? Or maybe you can't afford to live in Palos but would like to?" "Apoarently Bob likes the idea of getting his door kicked in because of gangbangers who drove from englewood to Palos Heights to rob innocent people who work for what they have " SO EASY...
He's one of those hippie goody goody types, that knows everything. He's never face down an a**hole with a pistol in his face. I have friends who are all differnet races, sorry to say these people who you are talking about are lazy, good for nothing pieces of sh*t. These are the 47% that Romney was talking about, not the seniors, the vets or the disabled. The ones oppressed by the MAN! Bullcrap, they are just looking for excuses to get crap for free. Best for us is to put the conceal and carry into affect. I guarantee once someone pulls a firearm defending themselves, you'll see those chicken shits running with their tails between thier legs!