Darien Home Invasion 'Persons Of Interest' Released

DARIEN, IL — Darien Police have released two "persons of interest" held in connection with a home invasion Tuesday in which a woman was held a gunpoint, police said Wednesday. They were not charged. The police chief declined to give a reason for the people's release, saying the incident remains under investigation.

In an interview, Police Chief Greg Thomas said he believed there was a motive behind the home invasion in the 1100 block of Belair Drive, but he did not want to reveal that information at this stage in the investigation. He said there were three suspects in the incident.

About 10 a.m. Tuesday, a woman in her 20s was at home when she heard someone knocking on the door. She looked out and saw several people wearing construction-type vests. People said the woman called her mother to check if she was expecting anyone. Then several masked people entered the house through a door that might have been unlocked and then held the woman at gunpoint, police said in a news release.

The woman's mother, who was unaware of what was happening, called neighbors, who went to check on the woman, the release said. When the neighbors rang the doorbell, the woman was ordered to answer the door and tell the neighbors everything was fine.

But one of the neighbors noticed someone in the background holding a gun, so the neighbor pulled the woman out of the house and ran back to the neighbor's house, police said. They called police.

Darien Police issued a description of the suspects, and two people were detained by the Woodridge Police. The two were brought to the Darien Police Department, and a K9 unit searched the area, finding gloves, items of clothing and a handgun nearby, according to police.

"This appears to be an isolated incident, and there is no further related danger to the community," police said in the news release.

Anyone with information or video in connection with the case is urged to call Darien Police detectives at 630-971-3999.