Two charged in Batavia car burglaries

A 19-year-old Batavia man and a 17-year-old boy have been charged with burglarizing several cars in Batavia last week.

Jaari Williams and the boy were arrested at 4 a.m. Aug. 8 in the 600 block of Lathem Street. A resident had called police, suspicious about a man he saw walking around the neighborhood, carrying a flashlight.

Batavia Detective Sgt. Shawn Mazza said police found items from several burglaries in the possession of Williams and the boy.

Items stolen included two cans of Red Bull, gum, telephone chargers, a bank deposit booklet, checkbooks and GPS devices.

The thefts occurred overnight Aug. 7 and 8 on the northeast side of the city.

All vehicles were unlocked.

“We’re finding still it’s the crime of opportunity,” Mazza said, noting car-hopping thieves look in windows for valuables. Mazza urged residents to not leave valuable items in vehicles, and to lock vehicles.

Bond for Williams was set at $20,000, and he was being held in the Kane County jail. The next court appearance for Williams, of the 600 block of Madison Street, is Wednesday.

Kane County court records show Williams was charged in 2008 and 2009 with possession of alcohol by a minor; in 2009 with violating curfew and twice with truancy; in 2009 and 2011 with consumption of alcohol by a minor; and in 2011 with permitting an unlawful gathering where alcohol was consumed.