4 Arrested By New Lenox Police For Car Burglaries

NEW LENOX, IL - An observant New Lenox Public Works employee apparently foiled a car burglary spree around 4 a.m. Monday in the village, according to police. Three men in their early twenties and a 16-year-old boy were all eventually apprehended in connection with the early morning car break-ins, Deputy Chief of New Lenox Police Louis Alessandrini told New Lenox Patch. He said none of the four were residents of New Lenox.

"Whenever someone sees something suspicious and picks up the phone, we're very grateful," Alessandrini told Patch. He said the four suspected burglars were operating in the area of Veterans Parkway and Gear Drive.

The four people who were arrested are: Omar Ali, 22, of Harvey; Tyler Cupit, 21, of Dolton; Abullah Mansurmasa, 20, of Calumet City; and a 16-year-old boy from Harvey. The juvenile was released to the custody of his family, Alessandrini said. The codefendants were each arrested on suspicion of two felony crimes: possession of a stolen car and burglary to a motor vehicle, Alessandrini said.

On Monday night, Ali, Mansurmasa and Cupit were all being held inside the Will County Adult Detention Facility in downtown Joliet, jail logs show.

Around 4 a.m., a snow plow driver suspected that car burglars were lurking around near the Old Plank Trail Community Bank. When a New Lenox squad car pulled up to a parked car, four people then ran off in different directions, Alessandrini explained. Several other New Lenox officers were notified of the apparent burglary in progress. The burglary suspects tried to run through the snow, which made it easier for New Lenox officers to chase them down. One of the men was captured after he tried to hide inside somebody's unlocked car, Alessandrini said.

A second person was chased down by police after he tried to run across Route 30. Two others were located hiding near a bank building, Alessandrini said. The four burglary suspects drove to New Lenox in a black-colored Jeep Cherokee that was stolen in Highland Park, Alessandrini said, adding that false license plates were found on the Jeep.

"All four were apprehended and the proceeds that were taken from several burglaries" were also recovered, Alessandrini said.

He believes the codefendants were involved in several other car burglaries from other Chicago-area towns over the past several days. The criminal investigation is just in its early stages, he noted.

"It appears they were checking unlocked car doors in the area," Alessandrini said. "Please lock your car doors at night. Don't leave valuable property, wallets, purses, laptops and cell phones out in your car. And if you see anything suspicious, please call us."

Abullah Mansurmasa

Tyler Cupit

Omar Ali

Mugshots via Will County Sheriff's Department