Auto Burglary Crew Member Nabbed For Unlocked Car Break-ins: Cops

ORLAND PARK, IL -- A member of a purported car burglary crew that has been pillaging unlocked vehicles for valuables as well as swiping high-end autos where keys were found inside, was arrested in a Dolton parking lot rummaging through a Mercedes Benz that had been stolen in Orland Park, prosecutors said. Donte Elbert, 32, appeared before Cook County Judge Peter Felice on charges of residential burglary and burglary to a motor vehicle, both felonies. Elbert is also charged with another car burglary that happened Aug. 6 in Orland Park.

Orland Park police responded to a report of a stolen 2012 Mercedes around 5:30 a.m. Aug. 28 in the 9800 block of 145th Street. Elbert and another man allegedly entered an unlocked Dodge that was parked on the residence's driveway. The prosecutor said the two removed property from the Dodge and then used the garage door opener to open the garage. Inside, the prosecutor said that Elbert and his accomplice found an unlocked Mercedes with the keys left inside. The accomplice got into the Mercedes and Elbert entered an SUV where a third person was believed to have been waiting, the prosecutor said. The burglary and theft were reportedly captured on home surveillance video.

The Mercedes was traced to a parking lot near 1000 E. Sibley Blvd. in Doltan. A Dolton police officer spotted Elbert rummaging through the Mercedes, the prosecutor said. Elbert was turned over to Orland Park police.

Elbert was also identified as a suspect in another car burglary that occurred around 3 a.m. Aug. 6 in the Silo Ridge subdivision. Elbert and another unknown person allegedly entered two unlocked vehicles, including a Cadillac Escalade. The prosecutor said that Elbert was captured on video removing a tan diaper bag. One of the accomplices is also said to have entered a vehicle where the keys were left inside. The unknown suspect drove off in the car, but when a neighbor came out the car was ditched in the middle of the block. Elbert and the others took off in the SUV they arrived in and fled the area, the prosecutor said.

Orland Park police said Elbert made a videotaped confession admitting to the car burglaries. Bail was set at $100,000 on each charge. Elbert wanted to make a statement but was stopped by the assistant public defender. Elbert’s next court date is Sept. 13.

Unlocked car burglaries and car thefts where keys were found inside the vehicles have reached epidemic proportions throughout the south suburbs this summer. Police have recently taken to social media to raise awareness of the epidemic, including the #9pmroutine where residents are reminded via social media to go get their valuables out of the car and lock their vehicles every evening a 9 o'clock.