Man Busts Down Door Looking For 'Special Hammer': Prosecutor

STICKNEY, IL -- A man was arrested when Stickney police found him hiding in a stairwell after he had busted down a door to a residence, prosecutors said. Leopoldo Villalobos, 25, of Cicero, appeared before Cook County Judge Peter Felice on a felony charge of residential burglary. Villalobos also has a pending battery charge.

Around 3 p.m. Sept. 4, the woman heard knocking and pounding on her door and went to investigate. Villalobos kicked in the back door and the woman screamed, the prosecutor said. The woman called police and Villalobos allegedly fled the scene. Officers saw Villalobos allegedly run past their car while en route and a foot chase ensured. Villalobos was found hiding beneath a stairwell, the prosecutor said.

Police said that Villalobos had a check stub from a company that had done work at the residence a few weeks before. The woman was able to identify Villalobos as the person who broke her door down, but could not remember him doing repair work around her house, the prosecutor said. Pry marks were found on the door.

According to police, Villalobos said that he had returned to house to get a hammer he had left there because it “mean a lot to him.” When no one answered the door, he allegedly went into the basement to get the special hammer.

Bail was set at $150,000. The judge also ordered electronic monitoring should Villalobos bond out. Villalobos is due back in court Sept. 19.