Police say pawnshop law helped charge Aurora man in 5 burglaries
Aurora police are crediting the city's pawnshop ordinance for helping to secure charges in five burglaries on the city's west side between January and March.
J.C. Knotts, 34, of the 400 block of Ingleside Avenue in Aurora, has been charged with two felony counts of residential burglary and three other felony burglaries, according to Kane County court records.
Dan Ferrelli, spokesman for Aurora police, said the case shows the importance for residents to shut their garage doors.
Ferrelli added that the city's law for pawn and resale shops requires shop owners to keep records of items brought in to be sold, along with taking photos of the sellers.
Ferrelli said officers were reviewing recent transactions at area shops and noticed multiple items that matched descriptions of those stolen.
"In some of the cases, we also were able to obtain home security videos, which aided in the investigations," he added.
Knotts was arrested this week during a traffic stop on a failure to appear in court warrant for a 2014 traffic offense.
The burglaries Knotts has been charged with are:
• Golf clubs and a snowblower, valued at $800, stolen between 5 p.m. Jan. 11 and 6 a.m. Jan. 12 from an unlocked garage on the 400 block of Central Avenue.
• Various tools valued at $1,030 from an unlocked garage between 2 p.m. Jan. 12 and 8:30 a.m. Jan. 15 from an unlocked garage on the 800 block of Hardin Avenue.
• A snowblower valued at $500 between 9 p.m. Jan. 24 and 6:30 a.m. Jan. 25 from an unlocked garage on the 200 block of LeGrande Boulevard.
• Numerous tools worth $6,235 stolen between 2 and 6 a.m. March 3 from a cargo van parked on the 100 block of South Western Avenue. Entry was gained by breaking a window.
• A snowblower worth $200 was reported stolen at 1:50 p.m. March 15 from an unlocked garage on the 300 block of Berwick Drive.
Knotts' bail was not immediately available, nor was his next court date.
Residential burglary typically carries a punishment ranging from 4 to 15 years in prison; the other burglary charges carry a top punishment of seven years in prison, but probation is an option.