Cops Corral West Side Car Burglary Crew: Police

A crew of car burglars ended up in jail after the cops caught two of them red-handed and then rounded up the rest when one called in their impounded getaway car as stolen, police said.

The police had already been staking out the area around Essington Road and Pandola Avenue due to a rash of break-ins to both vehicles and homes. Shortly after 2 a.m. Tuesday, tactical officers noticed interior lights flashing on and off and heard car alarms sounding, police said.

The cops chased down and captured two of the alleged crooks — Joseph Murray, 20, of Crest Hill and [name removed]. The police also towed away the men’s 2003 Saab getaway car.

Soon after, the owner of the car, 19-year-old Joseph Crow of Westchester, allegedly called the Crest Hill police from Murray’s home and reported the vehicle stolen. The police went to the residence on Cedarwood Drive and arrested him, along with Randall Bittings, 23, of Westchester and 18-year-old Dakari Williams, who lives in the same Cedarwood Drive residence as Murray.

Another resident of the Cedarwood Drive address reportedly handed over property the five had stolen that night, as well as stolen property from other capers, police said.

All five of the young men were taken to the Will County jail.