Cops Nab Car Burglar Hiding Under Car: Prosecutor

CRESTWOOD, IL -- A Robbins man was arrested when he was spotted rifling through unlocked cars and then ran away from police, prosecutors said. Spencer Shaw, 21, appeared before Cook County Judge Michael Kane on a felony burglary charge. Shaw has two other pending burglary charges.

Around 3:55 a.m. Jan. 8, Crestwood police responded to a report of a suspicious person wearing a dark jacket and red skull cap rifling through cars parked in the area of 139th Street and Dori Lane. Officers saw a man, later identified as Shaw, walking on the Midlothian Turnpike that matched the suspicious person’s description, the prosecutor said.

When police got out of the car to talk to him, Shaw allegedly took off running. Officers pursued the runaway suspect and set up a perimeter in the area, the prosecutor said. Shaw was pursued south on Cicero Avenue when he was spotted entering the Crestwood Auto Auction parking lot at 14106 S. Cicero Ave. The prosecutor said officers searched the lot until they found Shaw hiding under a car.

Shaw was wearing a black DKNY jacket, which he admitted taking from a Range Rover, the prosecutor said. Shaw allegedly agreed to show officers the vehicles he stole property from. Police said there were footprints in the snow leading to numerous vehicles that matched Shaw’s. He was taken into custody.

Police said Shaw was cooperative and admitted walking to Crestwood where he entered at least 25 unlocked vehicles. According to police, Shaw explained he only steals from unlocked vehicles and had not damaged those he had entered. In addition to the jacket, police said they found a USB cord, flashlight, sunglasses, a GPS unit, tools, Motorola radio and $14.87 in miscellaneous change.

The judge ordered Shaw to be held without bond on the new charge. Kane set bail on the bond violations at $100,000 each. Shaw’s next court hearing is Jan. 23 in Bridgeview.