Man, 22, charged with Batavia vehicle burglaries

A 22-year-old man was nearly caught red-handed breaking into vehicles early Saturday morning in Batavia, according to police.

Jeffrey J. Hawkins Jr., of the 2000 block of Lilac Lane, has been charged with four counts of felony burglary and misdemeanor criminal damage to property, according to Kane County court records.

Batavia Police Detective Sgt. Shawn Mazza said Hawkins was arrested at about 2:41 a.m. Saturday on the 600 block of Batavia Avenue.

Police were called after Hawkins apparently set off a car alarm on the 500 block of Batavia, Mazza said.

"The caller actually observed him running from vehicles in the 500 block of Batavia Avenue," Mazza said. "The victim was tipped off by the car alarm."

Mazza said police located Hawkins, found a Verizon tablet and bag of loose change - items he later admitted to stealing from several unlocked vehicles.

According to court records, Hawkins also was charged with felony possession of a controlled substance because he had 21 pills of generic Adderall.

If convicted of burglary, Hawkins faces anywhere from probation to seven years in prison.

He is being held at the Kane County jail on $75,000 bail, meaning he must post $7,500 to be released while the case is pending. Hawkins is due in court on Friday.