Threesome Accused of Planning, Performing and Pawning Jewelry in Christmas Eve Burglary

STEGER, IL -- A Steger couple are accused of burglarizing a home on Christmas Eve and then pawning off the homeowner’s jewelry, prosecutors said.

Melissa Habecker, 38, and Timothy Bounds, 44, of Steger, appeared before Cook County Judge Darron Bowden on a felony charge of residential burglary. They were also charged with misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia and child endangerment.

A third alleged accomplice, Lori Orr, 48, also of Steger, was arrested and charged with burglary earlier this week.

According to the charges, Orr badgered her cousin with phone texts on Dec. 24, 2016, asking when the family planned to be away from their home in the 0-40 block of East 44rd Place.

When the homeowner returned home, the rear door was wide open. The homeowner told police that jewelry and other items were stolen from the home. After perusing online ads, the homeowner recognized the stolen jewelry for sale at three different pawn shops.

Court records indicated that Orr helped plan and execute the burglary, entering the home and pointing out where the jewelry was kept to Bounds and Habecker.

Orr was arrested on March 3. The prosecutor said her admissions led police to Habecker and Bounds, who were both arrested on March 6. She is currently being held on $50,000 bail.

The prosecutor said that when police arrived at the couple’s residence, a 13-year-old boy was also in the house. Police found uncapped syringes and needles on the kitchen floor and on the bedroom bureau.

Bounds allegedly admitted to kicking in the back door. Habecker is said to have told police that she drove her friends to the house.

After the couple’s arrest, the boy’s grandmother came to take him home.

The judge set Bounds’ bail at $48,000. Habecker’s bail was set at $15,000. Both are due back in court March 23 in Markham.