3 Defendants In New Lenox Car Burglaries Can't Post Bail

NEW LENOX, IL - Last week, codefendants Omar Ali, Tyler Cupit and Mansurmusa Abullah all stood next to each other as Will County prosecutors gave Judge Art Smigielski the circumstances of their arrests. Around 4 a.m., Jan. 15, New Lenox public works officials notified New Lenox Police officers to a car break-in in progress. Several officers responded to the call and ultimately chased down Ali, Cupit and Abullah as well as a 16-year-old juvenile from Harvey, according to court testimony.

Prosecutors also told the judge the three young men standing in court already were facing criminal charges related to other thefts or burglaries around Cook County. As a result of the early morning incident in New Lenox, Ali, Cupit and Abullah each faces one felony charge of burglary, a Class 2 felony, and another felony charge of unlawful possession of a stolen vehicle. Court documents indicate the three codefendants knowingly had a stolen black-colored Jeep Cherokee and while in New Lenox, they "without authority, knowingly entered a motor vehicle ... a 2011 Buick Enclave with the intent to commit therein a theft."

After hearing from the prosecution, Will County Judge Art Smigielski set a $150,000 bond for all three young men. Before their arrests in Will County, Abullah, 20, lived in Chicago, Cupit, 21, lived in Dolton, and Ali, 22, lived in Harvey, as did the underage minor, whose case is now pending in juvenile court.

None of the three young men has been able to come up with 10 percent of his $150,000 bond, jail records show.

All three men are slated to return to the Will County Courthouse for their next court appearance on Feb. 8. The Will County Public Defender's Office has been appointed to represent them.

Mansurmusa Abullah

Tyler Cupit

Mugshots via Will County Sheriff's Department