Crime & Safety
Squatter Refuses to Open Door, Police Break It Down
Police observed signs they had broken into the home.
Montrell Bracey, 19, of Romeoville, was charged with resisting a peace officer and disorderly conduct after a neighbor in the 7000 block of Keeney reported she saw a black male wearing a red T-shirt attempting to break into the residence at 7042 Keeney on May 12 about 1:30 p.m.
The neighbor told police the home was in foreclosure and that the owner, a 53-year-old man, and his 22-year-old son were the only ones who should have access to it.
Police observed a west side window had been forced open and there was a stepladder on the ground outside it. A north side window also showed signs of being forced open, and its screen was lying on the ground.
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Police, suspecting a burglary, observed a black male through the front bay window sitting on a sofa. Police spoke to him through the door, identifying themselves and instructing him to open the door. He replied, "I'm not opening the door for you." He also refused to give the reason why he was in the residence.
After he refused numerous orders and questions, police broke down the door. They found three men sitting in the living room on sofas and ordered them all to the ground. The first two did so, but the person who had refused to open the door did not lie down and became verbally abusive. Police took him to the ground and handcuffed him.
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Police were able to get the homeowner on the phone and he said he would sign criminal trespass complaints.
$1,300 worth of supplies stolen
A 56-year-old man told police that he left his vehicle unlocked when returning a shopping cart to a carrel in the parking lot of a store in the 7300 block of Melvina on May 11 about 2 p.m.
During that brief time period, $1,343 worth of supplies, including 17 cartons of cigarettes, two units of smokeless tobacco and three packs of vending machine candy, were removed from the vehicle.
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