Liquor Store Burglars Nabbed With Cigs, Cash, Booze: Police

HOMETOWN, IL — Two men broke into a Hometown liquor store where they stole cigarettes, cash and liquor, prosecutors said. Chicago residents Kendo Harris, 37, and Dionte Richmond, 32, appeared before Cook County Judge John Mahoney on a felony charge of burglary.

Around 2:45 a.m. Dec. 23, the owner of Town and Pantry and Liquor in Hometown was alerted by his security system that someone had possibly broken into store. The owner watched video streamed to his home of two men, later identified as Harris and Richmond, walking around his store, the prosecutor said.

The two grabbed $4,500 worth of cigarettes, $404 of liquor and $908 from the register on their first trip, the prosecutor said. Harris and Richmond were allegedly going back inside a second time when police arrived. Both men were taken into custody. Recovered at the store was a metal bar that had apparently been used to shatter the store’s front window.

A violation of bail bond was issued for Richmond for pending drug case. The prosecutor said that Richmond also has two active orders of protection sworn against him.

Harris has a prior conviction for manufacture and delivery of a controlled substance, for which he was sentenced to two years’ probation, according to court records. Harris also had an outstanding paternity warrant.

“He’s not denying that the child is his,” the assistant public defender said. “The child lives with him.”

The judge lowered bond to $25,000 for each. Harris was issued a $1,000 cash bond for the paternity case. Harris and Richmond are both due back in court Jan. 14 in Bridgeview.