Brookfield Man Wearing Electronic Bracelet Nabbed on Car Burglary Charges: Cops

RIVERSIDE, IL -- A Brookfield man allegedly told police he had no fear of being arrested while he wore an electronic bracelet is now facing burglary charges after a resident followed his car when she saw him allegedly rifling through unlocked cars in Riverside, police said.

John D. Kimbrough, 40, of the 9800 block of Lincoln Avenue, Brookfield, is facing a Class 3 felony count of burglary and more charges may be forthcoming, Riverside Police Chief Tom Weitzel said.

According to the charges, Riverside police received a 911 call from a resident stating that a man was breaking into a car parked on the 300 block of Shenstone Road. As she she approached the man, later identified as Kimbrough, he got into a gold vehicle and fled from the scene.

The woman also got into her car and followed the fleeing car through Riverside while calling 911 to report the crime, until the car eventually crossed Harlem Avenue and continued into Berwyn, police said.

Riverside police working with Berwyn’s dispatch center were able to stop Kimbrough’s vehicle near Staley and Clarence in Berwyn. Police said Kimbrough tried to flee on foot but was apprehended by Riverside and Berwyn officers.

Kimbrough was taken into custody, where he was positively identified by the witness in a street lineup. The witness also identified Kimbrough’s vehicle, according to a police news release.

Once in custody, police said that further investigation revealed that Kimbrough had been going street to street in Riverside burglarizing or attempting to burglarize most unlocked vehicles parked in the street or on the driveway.

Riverside police have attributed four attempted burglaries and one burglary to Kimbrough. He is also a suspect in several burglaries and thefts in the western suburbs. Weitzel said numerous other suburban law enforcement agencies are looking at him as a suspect in their cases.

At the time of Kimbrough’s arrest, police said he was out on electronic monitoring from several pending theft cases. Kimbrough has been arrested on 18 other occasions, including obstructing justice, robbery, burglary, fraudulent activity, invasion of privacy, obscenity, traffic offenses and obstruction of justice, according to court records.

Weitzel said the arrest would not have been possible without the direct assistance of a Riverside resident, who saw the alleged crime taking place and called 911 while following the offending vehicle.

“I am very thankful we have such a concerned resident that would call police and give detailed descriptions which would allow us to make an arrest,” Weitzel said. “The fact that Mr. Kimbrough was out on electronic monitoring simply speaks for itself. The electronic monitoring bracelet on his ankle provided no deterrent as he continued to commit felony crimes when being given the opportunity to be out on electronic monitoring. Mr. Kimbrough stated he had no fear of being arrested while he had the electronic monitoring bracelet on.”