Parolee Knocking On Residents' Doors Looking for Gasoline Accused of Driving Stolen Car: COPS

ORLAND PARK, IL -- A Lockport parolee knocking on residents’ doors looking for gasoline was found to be driving a hot car, reports said. Steven M. Bargery, 36, was charged with possession of a stolen motor vehicle. Bargery is currently on parole from the Illinois Department of Corrections for retail theft.

Orland Park police were in the area of the 10200 block of Hickory Drive in reference to a suspicious person banging on doors looking for gasoline for his vehicle, police said. Dispatch also added that the alleged suspicious person also appeared to be checking residences for unlocked, open doors. Police met with the caller, who pointed out a man later identified as Bargery standing on a porch two doors down.

Parked in the street was a 2009 Buick Lucerne, officers noted. A LEADS check revealed that car had been reported stolen from Will County earlier in the day. Officers found Bargery talking to the other homeowner on his porch, reports said. Bargery allegedly claimed the homeowner was a friend, whom he was helping out with some gas. The homeowner told police he had never seen Bargery before in his life.

Orland Park police spoke to vehicle’s owner, who said she woke up that morning only to discover that her car was gone. The woman told police she immediately suspected Bargery, who did not have permission to use her car. She was doing Bargery a favor by letting him live in her home as a condition of his parole, reports said. Bargery was also on electronic monitoring and was only allowed to leave the house between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. three days a week to look for work, police said.

Police also learned that car was wanted in connection to a hit-and-run crash earlier in the day at Nick's BBQ in Homer Glen. Bargery was taken into custody. Reports stated that there was also a parole violation hold on Bargery.

Bargery is currently being held on $100,000 at Cook County Jail, according to jail records. His next hearing is scheduled for Aug. 29 in Bridgeview. The vehicle was returned to the owner with an empty gas tank.