Homeowner Scares Off Intruder After Grabbing Pistol, Shooting at Him: Police

LONG GROVE, IL — A 28-year-old Vernon Hills man was arrested early Thursday after breaking into a home in Long Grove while a family was asleep inside, police said Friday.

Erik G. Mota, of the 800 block of Westermoreland Drive in Vernon Hills, is charged with attempted residential burglary, a class 2 felony, and two counts of burglary to motor vehicle, class 2 felonies, in connection with the incident that occurred at about 4 a.m. Thursday in the 3000 block of Country Lane in Long Grove.

The Long Grove homeowner told police he and his family were asleep inside when he awoke to find Mota attempting to break into his residence, according to a Lake County Sheriff’s Office press release. The homeowner retrieved a pistol and fired the gun at Mota. Mota ran to his vehicle, which was allegedly parked in the vicinity of the victim’s home, and fled, police said.

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office responded and alerted area police departments of the incident.

A short time later, a Vernon Hills police officer responded to a suspicious vehicle call in the 800 block of Westmoreland Drive in Vernon Hills. The Vernon Hills police officer noted Mota, who was changing a flat tire, was likely the suspect of the Long Grove incident, according to a news release.

Mota is also accused of burglarizing two vehicles in the homeowner’s driveway before attempting to breaking into the residence.

Mota was arrested and transported to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division, authorities said. He is being held in the Lake County Jail on a $5,000 bail, according to police. He is due in court on Nov. 16.