Burglars Caught Red-Handed In Burbank: Cops

BURBANK, IL — Two Chicago men under police surveillance were arrested when they were caught burglarizing a home in Burbank, prosecutors said. Hislen Moncada, 20, and Ivan Reyes, 19, appeared before Judge John Mahoney on a felony charge of residential burglary.

With information developed from an ongoing investigation into a string of burglaries, Oak Lawn police had placed three possible suspects under surveillance. Around 10:30 a.m. March 25, Oak Lawn police followed the three suspects to Burbank. An unknown man was seen getting out of a silver Kia and knocking on a door for several minutes. When no one answered, the man walked back to the car where the other suspects, later identified as Mancada and Reyes, were waiting, the prosecutor said.

The Kia moved to other residents, where the unidentified man got out and knocked on more doors. The suspects moved to a home in the 8000 block of Meade Avenue. Oak Lawn officers watched the unidentified suspect walk to the back of the residence, where police said they heard a screen being ripped out of a side door.

>>> Burglary Spree Raises Concern in Evergreen Park, Oak Lawn

Moncada and Reyes walked to the side of the house. The three men emerged minutes later, police said. As police approached them, the men allegedly took off running, tossing items as they ran. Burbank police arrived to assist the Oak Lawn officers.

Moncada and Reyes were taken into custody, but the third man got away, Burbank police said in a news release. The third suspect is described as a Hispanic male in his late 20s, 5-feet-11-inches tall, and weighing approximately 206 pounds, with a tattoo of a teardrop on his left eye, police said. The man fled in an unknown direction.

Police recovered a silver 2011 Kia Optima, believed to be owned by the third man who fled the scene. A similar car has been spotted in the area where some burglaries have been reported in Oak Lawn and Evergreen Park. The burglaries are still under investigation.

"We suspect that the same people who committed the Burbank burglary are involved in the recent string of burglaries committed in Oak Lawn," OLPD Division Chief Ross Finnelly said.

Both Moncada and Reyes have been charged with one court each of burglary. Moncada also had an outstanding warrant for aggravated unlawful use of a weapon. The two are being held without bond due to violations of bail bond and probation for other unrelated cases.

“All right, guys, looks like you’re going to be hanging around for awhile,” Mahoney said.

“That’s the law, boys,” Moncada yelled as he left the courtroom.

Moncada and Reyes are both due back in court April 10 in Bridgeview. Booking photos of the suspects were not immediately available.