Facebook post helps Aurora catch accused school burglars
Aurora police say a Facebook post helped them track down two 21-year-old men accused of damaging Aurora Christian School during an early morning burglary.
Police posted a collection of surveillance photos from the private school at 2255 W. Sullivan Road, which was burglarized about 12:40 a.m. Dec. 31, on the Aurora Police Department Facebook page about 8:45 a.m. Tuesday.
The photos show two suspects — one black man wearing a gray T-shirt, maroon shorts and blue-laced shoes, and one Hispanic man wearing glasses, a gray “ARMY” long-sleeved shirt and black shorts — walking in a hallway.
Within hours, spokesman Dan Ferrelli said someone recognized the men who are accused of the burglary and contacted Aurora Area Crime Stoppers with their identities.
By 5:50 p.m. Tuesday, the two suspects — 21-year-olds Shawn Lopez of the 200 block of LRA Drive, and Avery Payne of the 500 block of Manor Place — were in police custody.
“Aurora Christian burglary solved thanks to you!” the department posted on its Facebook page about 9:30 a.m. Wednesday. “Thanks for helping us keep Aurora safe!”
Lopez has been charged with burglary to a school and criminal damage to a school, both felonies. Payne has been charged with burglary to a school, police said.
When Aurora police investigators took the men into custody at Payne's home, they recovered $3,235 worth of items — a laptop computer, charger, mouse, two pairs of athletic shoes and basketball shorts — which Lopez and Payne are accused of stealing.
Lopez and Payne also are accused of causing damage to the school, which suffered a smashed interior window and pry damage to two steel doors.
Police said they believe Lopez and Payne entered the school by a door that inadvertently had been left open earlier in the day.
Both men appeared at a hearing Wednesday morning at Aurora branch court, where bail was set at $20,000 for each of them, according to the Kane County State's Attorney's office. That means Lopez and Payne each will have to post $2,000 to be released before their next court date, which is scheduled for 9 a.m. Jan. 22 in room 313 at the Kane County Judicial Center.