Man arrested in Crystal Lake on arson, car theft charges

Crystal Lake police arrested and charged a 24-year-old Chicago man on charges of stealing a car and setting fire to a Crystal Lake home early Saturday morning.

Thomas A. Pucinski, of 6039 W. Montrose Ave. in Chicago, was arrested for possession of a 1992 Honda Civic stolen in the burglary reported at 585 Woodland Drive on Saturday August 9 in Crystal Lake.

Crystal Lake police said Chicago police officers discovered the stolen car and spoke with Pucinski before taking him in custody and contacting Crystal Lake police.

Police said Pucinski confessed to burglarizing the home, intentionally setting the fire and taking the vehicle.

Dennis Harris, deputy chief of the Crystal Lake Police Department, said the 2:30 a.m. Saturday morning blaze started in the garage of 585 Woodland Drive, but spread inside the home after fire fighters arrived on the scene.

He said no one was in the home at the time of the fire, as the family was on vacation.

He said after the fire was put out, investigators discovered the car was taken from the garage.

He said Monday morning that evidence suggested the car was stolen and the house was set on fire to cover up the burglary.

The fire caused $350,000 in damages to the home.

Pucinski has been charged with one count of residential arson, a class 1 felony, and one count of residential burglary, a class 1 felony. He has also been charged with one count of theft over $300, a class 3 felony, and one count of unlawful possession of a stolen motor vehicle, a class 2 felony.

Pucinski will be taken to the McHenry County Jail following an appearance in court Tuesday morning.