Cops quickly nab suspects in Antioch burglary

Antioch Police Chief James Foerster credited determined officers with the arrest of three men who police said broke into a store and stole thousands of dollars in cigarettes and cash.

Police said a burglar alarm sounded at the Shop And Save on the 500 block of Route 173 in Antioch just before 5 a.m. Friday. When officers arrived, they reported finding the front window smashed and the store a mess.

On the ground near a car parked beside the store were three large bags containing about $4,200 in cigarette cartons, police said. Officers, who thought the suspects were still in the area, started canvassing the town.

According to police, a resident informed officers of suspicious-looking men on the 400 block of Lake Street. That tip led to the discovery of three men police said were hiding behind a closed business.

Antioch police said they found evidence, including $600 in cash, linking the men to the crime.

Charged with burglary were Edwin Torres, 24, 2551 N. Neva St., Jason Kuhlmann, 28, 3135 W. Carmen St. and Sergio Toutges, 35, 2428 N. Linder. All are from Chicago.

If convicted, each faces three to seven years in prison.

Foerster said it was the hard work of day and midnight shift officers, who first responded to the crime, that led to the arrests.

"These officers stayed determined," he said. "For us to locate (the suspects) almost three hours later was just fabulous police work."