Taco Bell Charge Tips Off Police To Suspected Burr Ridge Burglar

BURR RIDGE, IL — A Lemont man has been arrested in a string of home burglaries in Burr Ridge after he was caught using a credit card from one of the burglaries at Taco Bell and Walmart. Jeffrey A. Velarde, 24, of Lemont, was charged with residential burglary and possession of a stolen motor in conjunction with the Saturday burglaries.

Police were first called to the scene of a home burglary in the 120 block of Kraml Drive at approximately 1:30 a.m. after the owner reported two people had rummaged through vehicles in their garage. Police were unable to locate any suspects at the time.

Later that morning, a residential burglary and a stolen vehicle were reported in the Falling Waters subdivision in the 9100 and 9500 blocks of Falling Water East respectively. Police say the stolen 2005 Volvo was later found in the 10S600 block of Lilac Lane.

Subsequent credit card transactions at Taco Bell and Walmart in Darien were traced back to cards missing from the aforementioned burglaries. Surveillance footage from these transactions helped police identify Velarde and another person who has not been charged.

Police tracked Velarde to an apartment in the 16W500 block of Mockingbird Lane in unincorporated DuPage County Monday, where he was taken into custody without incident.

Velarde is being held at DuPage County Jail as he awaits a bond hearing.

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