Man Arrested After Breaking Into Riverside Office: Cops

RIVERSIDE, IL — A Chicago man was arrested for burglary after breaking into a building in Riverside, police said. Maurice Sanders, 37, was charged with one count of burglary and one count of possession of burglary tools, both Class 4 felonies.

According to police, at 3:07 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 19, a burglar alarm was activated at 3340 S. Harlem, which is an administrative office building recently purchased by Riverside School District 96. A Riverside police officer happened to be directly across the street on an unrelated call when the alarm call went out.

Police said the officer ran across the street from the call he was handling and found the back door forced in and heavily damaged. The officer asked for backup and Riverside and Berwyn officers responded.

Officers conducted a search and first found a crowbar just inside the entrance, police said. They continued to search the building and found Sanders hiding behind a refrigerator. He was taken into custody at gunpoint without further incident.

While being interviewed at the police station, police said Sanders stated that he had been staying with a relative in Berwyn the last several weeks and noticed that the dumpster at the building he broke into had been filled beyond capacity and believed the building was being restored and was breaking in to see if there was any equipment that could be stolen or pawned.

Sanders also told police he did not know the alarm went off or he would've fled. Police said Sanders was also currently wanted on a no bond warrant from the Cook County Sheriff's Office for for manufacturing/delivery of heroin.

Police said Sanders' criminal history was extensive and included traffic offenses, fugitive from justice, armed robbery, possession of stolen motor vehicle and theft.

Photos provided by Riverside Police Department.