5 arrested in Lake County crime spree

A high-speed chase on Tuesday led police to arrest five men who had been on a recent crime spree through Lake County that included home burglaries, car thefts and arson, authorities said.

Everett D. Robinson, 19, and Marquis X. Jones, 21, were indicted on Wednesday on charges including residential burglary, theft, criminal trespass to residence and unlawful possession of a stolen motor vehicle, according to a news release.

Co-defendants Rayshaun Jones, 20, Jero M. Odiscu, 21, and Eric Green, 19, were in bond court on Thursday on charges of home invasion, residential burglary, burglary and arson. Jones was also charged with one count of unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon, police said.

The defendants committed various offenses in Gurnee, Highland Park, Vernon Hills and Lake Forest between June 26 and July 1, authorities said.

"It is alleged that the defendants entered through either unlocked windows or doors of numerous residences. The defendants also entered unlocked cars and used garage door openers in order to enter the homes," according to the news release.

"Once inside the residences, the defendants would search for car keys and personal property. After the defendants searched a residence, they would use the car keys to steal the home owners' vehicles."

On one occasion the defendants confronted a homeowner with a gun and demanded money, police said.

Police were able to track down the men after Green and a few other men led Highland Park Police on a high-speed chase, the release said. An investigation soon after showed that Jones and Odiscu stole a car and set it on fire in North Chicago, police said.

Jones is being held on $750,000 bail, while Odiscu and Green are being held on 500,000 bail at the Lake County jail, according to police.