Oak Lawn Cops Follow Footprints One Mile in Snow to Alleged Car Burglar

OAK LAWN, IL -- Oak Lawn police nabbed a suspected car burglar after following his footprints for more than a mile through the snow, prosecutors said.

David M. Cornwell-Adams, 26, of Worth, appeared before Cook County Judge Peter Felice on charges of burglary and attempted burglary. He arrested Dec. 10 after he allegedly tried to hide from police.

According to the charges, a resident saw a man later identified as Cornwell-Adams on his home security video around 7:16 p.m. Dec. 10. After Cornwell-Adams tried to enter the two vehicles parked on the driveway in the 10700 block of South Lorel Avenue,, the resident called police to report a suspicious subject.

Due to the heavy snowfall, the prosecutor said that officers followed a trail of the same pair of boot prints for more than a mile. Police said the footprints appeared to have stopped at 40 cars before veering off to a Dunkin’ Donuts restaurant.

Police recognized a person matching Cornwell-Adams’ description trying to hide from them. The prosecutor said that Cornwell-Adams was later found with $42 in change,a pair of leather gloves, three credit cards and two library cards in a resident’s name.

The caller was able to identify Cornwell-Adams as the man he saw attempting to enter the vehicles on his driveway. The second person identified the property found with Cornwell-Adams taken from her car in the 10700 block of South Georgia Lane.

Police also said that Cornwell-Adams’ boots matched the prints left in the snow.

Cornwell-Adams has five prior misdemeanor convictions for assault, retail theft, criminal damage to property, mob action and disorderly conduct.

The assistant public defender told the judge that Cornwell-Adams is currently working toward getting a commercial trucking license. He had no money for bond.

Bail was set at $30,000. Cornwell-Adams is due back in court Dec. 27 in Bridgeview.