Park Ridge police have arrested a man they say burglarized at least four homes while the occupants were sleeping inside.
Alfonso Vega, 36, of the 1100 block of Dodge Street, Evanston, was charged Dec. 3 with two counts of felony residential burglary, accused of stealing computers, credit cards, a set of keys and other electronic devices from occupied homes during overnight hours in November.
Police say Vega has been connected to four burglaries, two of which occurred at homes where attached garage doors were left unlocked. In all four incidents, occupants were inside and sleeping at the time.
A car with “unique” bumper stickers actually led police to Vega, said Park Ridge Police Cmdr. Lou Jogmen. Detectives, investigating the use of credit cards stolen during the home burglaries, obtained a description of the vehicle and the bumper stickers and shared them with area police agencies.
Evanston and Morton Grove police then alerted Park Ridge that officers had recent contact with the driver of a vehicle matching the description, Jogmen said.
Vega is accused of burglarizing a home on the 1300 block of Crescent Ave. on Nov. 10; homes on the 400 block of South Clifton and the 800 block of South Sylviawood on Nov. 23; and a home on the 1800 block of Norman Boulevard on Nov. 29.
In the Crescent Avenue burglary, police said one of the residents awoke to noises downstairs and when she called out, believing it was one of her family members, she saw a figure with a flashlight running out of the house.
Jogmen said entry to this particular residence was gained by using a garage door opener that had been stolen from the resident’s unlocked vehicle days earlier, but not reported to police.
In the Clifton burglary, a sliding door was forced open, Jogmen said. The other two homes had garage service doors left unlocked, police said.
The burglaries are a reminder to Park Ridge residents to secure their homes and their belongings, police said.
“We tend to sometimes get secure — and we want people to feel secure — but we also want people to realize we do live in an urban area and these things happen from time to time,” Jogmen said, explaining that thieves will come to communities like Park Ridge for such opportunities.
“You want to do what you can to dissuade [burglars] from choosing your home to victimize,” he added.
Vega is currently free on $40,000 bond, the Cook County Sheriff’s Department said. His next court date is scheduled for Dec. 17.
According to the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, Vega pled guilty Nov. 13 to violating his probation on a charge of possession of a controlled substance and was sentenced to eight days in jail. He was given time served for time he spent waiting in jail, a spokesman for the office said.