Villa Park Store Burglary Suspect Chased: Cops

VILLA PARK, IL – Villa Park officers showed up during a burglary in progress early Tuesday morning at a tobacco store, with the suspect leading them on a high-speed chase, officials said.

After he was caught, Michael Soria, 34, of Blue Island, was taken to the DuPage County Jail, police said.

About 4:30 a.m., Villa Park police got a call about a burglary at Roosevelt Tobacco, 133 W. Roosevelt Road. Officers noticed a shattered window and then saw Soria leaving the store with a bag of merchandise, according to a news release from the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office.

The officers shined a flashlight on Soria, who then dropped the bag, ran to a minivan and sped away, police said. He led them on a pursuit that reached speeds of 80 mph on Roosevelt Road, the news release said.

Police then deployed spike strips that stopped Soria's minivan near Roosevelt and Interstate 290, where he then ran across the expressway, police said. About six hours later, officers said they found Soria walking near his home.

In the minivan, police found 53 cigarette cartons from the store and burglary tools, including black gloves, a hammer, a pry bar, a drill and a larger breaker bar, according to the news release. The stolen merchandise was valued at $8,500.

"The alleged actions of the accused threatened to take away the dream of owning a business and providing goods and services for the community," Villa Park Police Chief Michael Rivas said in the release. "The Villa Park Police Department is vigilant and will do all we can to combat violent crimes as well as property crimes."

Soria was charged with the felonies of burglary, possession of burglary tools, and aggravated fleeing and eluding.