La Grange Restaurant Burglary Suspect Arrested: Cops

LA GRANGE, IL – La Grange police have arrested a man in connection with a restaurant burglary that occurred last November.

In late May, Maurice Massey, 48, was charged with burglary, police said. His hometown was redacted from police documents.

Through a public records request, Patch obtained the police reports in the case last week. The news outlet had sought the documents before.

On Nov. 15, police were called about the theft of two mixers valued at more than $1,800 from Lucca's Pizzeria, 108 W. Burlington Ave.

Surveillance footage showed Massey enter through Lucca's unlocked alley door about 6 a.m., according to police reports.

Inside the restaurant, Massey was seen smoking and holding what appeared to be a bottle of alcohol, police said.

About 20 minutes later, Massey took two garbage bags that were believed to contain the mixers, police said.

Shortly after, Massey was seen on downtown train station surveillance footage entering an eastbound Metra train.

A couple of days later, Lucca's owner told police that one of the mixers was advertised online at a Stone Park pawn shop. The police department checked, but found the mixer had arrived at the shop before the burglary, according to documents.

In a December blotter, police said the mixers were found at a North Riverside pawn shop.

A week after the burglary, Lucca's owner informed police he believed the suspect was near the train station.

An officer found the man, identified as Massey, who was taking a drink from something that was covered with brown paper, according to the report.

The officer saw a wet spot, which the officer thought was where Massey may have urinated, police said. Massey's zipper was reported as undone.

Massey was waiting for the train back to Chicago, police said. He told the officer he had just finished eating an early Thanksgiving meal at a local church.

In early February, an officer stated in documents that the case was still displayed as "received," but no employee had been assigned.

The following reports were largely redacted.

Massey was arrested May 30, according to the report.