Hanover Park man charged with Palatine burglary

A 21-year-old Hanover Park man faces residential burglary charges after authorities say he stole an iPad and baby monitor from a Palatine home.

Jose Rojas-Alocer was ordered held on $100,000 bail Tuesday by Cook County Judge Joseph Cataldo.

Rojas-Alocer is accused of removing a screen from the window of a Hicks Road home at about 7 p.m. June 20, said Cook County Assistant State's Attorney David Shin. The noise alerted the homeowner, who was upstairs, Shin said.

Shin said the owner confronted the burglar and asked what he was doing, to which the intruder replied "stealing your (expletive)," Shin said.

The homeowner saw the burglar get into a vehicle and heard someone shout the name "Jose," Shin said. The homeowner later provided police a description of the burglar and the vehicle.

Rolling Meadows police, as part of a separate investigation, located the defendant, the vehicle and the missing property, Shin said.

Shin said the defendant told police he gave the iPad to his girlfriend following an argument about money.

Rojas-Alocer has no criminal background. If convicted he faces up to 15 years in prison. He next appears in court on July 27.