Prosecutors: Wheeling man stole car from Waukegan dealership during test drive

A 51-year-old Wheeling man who authorities say didn't return a car after a test drive from a Waukegan dealership was arrested early Thursday and charged with unlawful possession of a stolen motor vehicle.

Martin Heydenburg was ordered held on $50,000 bail following a hearing Thursday at the Rolling Meadows courthouse.

Heydenburg reportedly told employees at Sortos Auto Sales he was interested in a car, said Cook County Assistant State's Attorney Kathryn Roy, and they agreed to let him take it for a 15 to 20 minute test drive. After he failed to return, employees reported the car stolen, Roy said. About 1:45 a.m. Thursday, a Wheeling police officer spotted the car at Wolf Road and Strong Avenue and ran a computer check of the registration, which indicated the car was stolen, Roy said.

Heydenburg's criminal background dates back to 1997, Roy said. It includes a 2011 conviction for theft for which he was sentenced to two years in prison. He was sentenced in 2012 to 86 days in jail following a conviction for violating an order of protection, Roy said. He has retail theft convictions in 2008 for which he was sentenced to 15 months in prison. In 2004, he received a 5-year sentence for residential burglary, Roy said.

If convicted of the class 2 felony, Heydenburg could face three to seven years in prison. Probation is also available. He next appears in court ton May 1.