Carpentersville man accused of high-tech eavesdropping

A Carpentersville man was accused of giving the old telephone slogan "reach out and touch someone" a high-tech twist when he bugged a car with a cell phone, police said Wednesday.

A 27-year-old woman called police at 8 p.m. Tuesday, saying she found a cell phone lying under the seat of her car with an open line.

When police called the number of the last incoming call, a man answered and said he was the woman's husband, police said. But they said they are unsure of the relationship between the victim and the man.

Howard Fabriccio, 30, of 130 Austin Ave., Carpentersville, was charged with eavesdropping and possession of an eavesdropping device, police said.

Police said the phone was set to ring silently and automatically answer. The person on the other end could listen to what was happening in the woman's car after the cell phone number was dialed.

When the phone was discovered, police said there was a timer on the phone that had been active for more than an hour.

The victim told police someone might have placed the device in her car to get something on her so she would lose custody of her four children.

"Eavesdropping is a charge you rarely see here," Carpentersville police Cmdr. Michael Kilbourne said.

Bond for Fabriccio was set at $500 and he remained in the Carpentersville lockup early Wednesday afternoon.

His next court date is on Aug. 30 at the Kane County Judicial Center.