Updated: La Grange Police Charge 2 With Burglary
911 call on Tuesday results in police arresting two men on burglary charges.
UPDATE 1:30 p.m.: According to La Grange Police Chief Michael Holub, bond was set at $250,000 for Jack Smith Jr. and $350,000 for Michael A. Bass this morning.
9 a.m.
La Grange police announced this morning that they have arrested and charged two men in connection with multiple burglaries in La Grange.
Michael A. Bass, 50, of Calumet City and Jack Smith Jr., 46, of Romeoville, were each charged with residential burglary; possession of burglary tools; two counts of criminal trespass to a residence; and two counts of criminal damage to property.
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The men were arrested after police responded to a 911 call on Tuesday, Sept. 4 on the 0-100 block of north Beacon Avenue. A resident on the block told police she believed she was meeting a delivery person, but when she learned the man at her home was not who she was expecting, she asked him to leave.
Police responded immediately and arrived in time to see both suspects running from the scene and get into a silver vehicle that was driven towards Ogden Avenue.
La Grange police broadcast a description of the vehicle, and it was spotted headed east on Ogden Avenue by Brookfield police and then by Lyons Police, who stopped the vehicle at 47th Street and First Avenue. Police believe the car was headed towards I-55.
Police arrested the two men in the car, who were identified as Bass and Smith, and transported their vehicle back to the police station. Police learned later that the vehicle contained a number of items that were the proceeds of an earlier burglary.
Later in the day on Sept. 4, La Grange police got a report of a burglary at an apartment on the 100 block of north La Grange Road. An investigation found several units in the apartment building had been forced open and had items stolen. These missing items were found inside the vehicle police already had in their custody.
Garry Watkins
10:02 am on Thursday, September 6, 2012
There should be no plea bargaining here.. With the rash of burglaries in and around this area, the law needs to make a huge example of this two criminals. Max jail time with no plea, and no time off for good behavior.
Matthew Hendrickson
1:26 pm on Thursday, September 6, 2012
That will be up to the judicial system, not the cops. All they can do is catch 'em and charge 'em.
rose
11:44 am on Thursday, September 6, 2012
I'm so glad to hear they were caught. This is frightening; I have lived in the area for 35+ years and cannot believe the amount of crime that is going on right now.
L O
12:09 pm on Thursday, September 6, 2012
Great police work on behalf of the involved communities! Quick thinking- solid job!
Matthew Hendrickson
1:26 pm on Thursday, September 6, 2012
Thanks for the comments everyone.
Shonagh Neafsey
11:02 am on Wednesday, November 28, 2012
The first man looks like the one I saw next to our garage side door one evening. It was a snowy dark night and he had a flashlight and was shining it on the door. When I asked what he was doing he ran, saying "Don't get excited, lady. I was just looking for my dog.". I have a photo of his boot prints in the snow, although this was almost 2 years ago so probably won't help now. That evening, about 6, I did call the police but he was long gone. Name Withheld. Home is a block from LaGrange.
Darren McRoy
11:12 am on Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Thanks for the story!!
Shirley Anderson
9:10 am on Saturday, December 1, 2012
Why are they robbing poor people who live in apartments? Dumb criminals!