St. Charles man kicked out of bar, arrested on theft

A St. Charles man who refused to leave a local tavern late Monday ended up being charged with multiple felonies after he was recognized as a suspect in a recent burglary, police said Tuesday.

Authorities first made contact Monday with Justin B. Patzer, 23, of 39W150 Campton Hills Road, about midnight, when he was being kicked out of a West Main Street bar, police said.

During booking, officers found a pair of bolt cutters in Patzer's possession and noticed he "strongly resembled" a suspect wanted in a Sept. 18 break-in at Norris Recreation Center, 1050 Dunham Road, according to police.

Authorities say Patzer had forced his way into the center, used bolt cutters to break into three lockers, and stole credit cards. Within the hour, police say, he used the cards to buy more than $400 in compact discs from Target, and a watch and men's cologne valued at $130 from Kohl's.

Three witnesses identified Patzer as being in the area of the recreation center during the burglary, and surveillance video shows him shopping at Target shortly thereafter, police said.

Patzer was charged late Monday with felony counts of unlawful use of a credit card, forgery, theft, and possession of burglary tools. He also faces one count of criminal trespass. Bond was set at $50,000.

Records show Patzer has been arrested on theft charges at least four times since 2002. He was charged with possession of a stolen vehicle in 2001, when police said he stole a car in Colorado and drove it back to Illinois.

Patzer's latest arrest came last month, when he was accused of stealing more than $600 in CDs from Meijer in St. Charles.

His next court date is Oct. 5.