Son Accused of Stealing Cash, Safe and Gun From Father's Home

EVERGREEN PARK, IL -- An Oak Lawn man was arrested after he stole a gun, cash and safe last month from his father’s house in Evergreen Park, prosecutors said. James Hooker, 29, appeared before Cook County Judge Peter Felice on a charge of residential burglary. Hooker is currently out on parole for a 2016 forgery conviction.

The prosecutor said Hooker’s father discovered on Sept. 26, that someone had broken into his home in the 2800 block of 101st Place. The family dog had also apparently been locked in the basement. A safe, cash and Century AK-47 gun were missing from the house.

Suspecting that his son might be involved, the father started asking his neighbors if they saw his son at his house. A neighbor identified a picture of Hooker, who said he saw him drive up in a dark-colored car earlier in the morning. The neighbor told the dad that his son walked through the alley to the back of the house, the prosecutor said.

Another neighbor allowed the father to view his home security video. The prosecutor said Hooker’s father was able to identify his son driving up in a dark- colored car and walking behind the house through the alley.

Police arrested Hooker Oct. 3 at the Budget Inn in Burbank. Hooker allegedly admitted to taking the safe, cash and gun. According to the prosecutor, Hooker told police he sold the gun for $600 to a “known drug dealer.”

Hooker is currently on parole from the Illinois Department of Corrections, where he had been serving a two-year sentence for forgery. He has prior convictions for retail theft and burglary, for which state prison records indicate he received probation. The assistant public defender told the judge that Hooker is a graduate of Evergreen Park Community High School.

The prosecutor asked for special conditions of bond, including that Hooker have no contact with his father or father’s house. He was also ordered to surrender any firearms, concealed-carry permit and FOID card to police The judge set bail at $100,000. Hooker is due back in court Oct. 31 in Bridgeview.