2 Wheaton Women Charged With 'Numerous Burglaries'

WHEATON, IL — Two Wheaton women have been charged after a string of burglaries to homes and cars throughout the city. Madeline Clifford, 25, of the 700 block of Casa Solana Drive, and Kathleen Lewandowski, 24, of the first block of Hawkins Circle, were taken into custody early Friday after an ongoing police investigation.

Police say Clifford and Lewandowski were seen "attempting and committing numerous burglaries of vehicles and homes in Wheaton just prior to their arrests."

Lewandowski was charged with motor vehicle burglaries in the 600 and 700 blocks of unincorporated White Birch Lane. She was also charged with burglarizing a home in the 100 block of Hawkins Circle.

Clifford was charged with stealing a Children's Miracle Network donation box from a Circle K location. Police also charged Clifford in connection with "several" car burglaries in the 600 and 700 blocks of White Birch Lane.

Wheaton Police Chief Bill Murphy said in a statement, "Our detectives picked up the case and made it a priority by surveilling the suspects into the early morning hours and catching them in the act."

Since the start of 2019, police say Wheaton has seen 21 vehicle burglaries and 10 home burglaries reported. Police are reminding residents to keep their cars and homes locked, to keep valuables out of sight, and to call 911 if they see suspicious activity.