A Chicago man was arrested Wednesday on charges he broke into several cars parked on Elgin’s west side but police do not believe he was involved in a recent rash of reported burglaries in the area, officials said.
Zachary Binion, 21, of the 4500 block of South Michigan Avenue, was charged with felony burglary and a misdemeanor trespass to a vehicle after officers observed him looking into car windows about 1 a.m. Sunday, police said. He was found in possession of items that had been taken from burglarized vehicles, police said.
Despite his arrest in an area that has been plagued by recent vehicle break-ins, police said they do not believe Binion was involved in the 15 burglaries that have been reported in the last week.
According to a post on the police department’s Facebook page, four of the cases involved cars that had been stolen because keys had been left inside. Three have since been recovered, the post said.
Police said they have increased patrols in the area, and have asked anyone with information to call 847-289-2600 or to send a text 847411, including ELGINPD at the beginning of the message. Tips can also be sent via www.cityofelgin.org/crimetip.
Residents are reminded to lock their car doors and to bring valuables and keys inside with them and to call police if they see suspicious activity, police said.
“Our officers are diligently working to put a stop to the burglary and car theft trend that has picked up primarily on the west side of Elgin,” police Chief Ana Lalley said. “We will continue these efforts and ask our residents to call us if they see or hear anything suspicious.”