Cops bust Elgin cousins in school burglary

Elgin police on Thursday nabbed a pair of local cousins they say are responsible for a Garfield Elementary School burglary that occurred in July.

Carlos A. Gonzalez and Sara L. Galeana, both 17 and of the 500 block of Raymond Street, Elgin, were each charged with felony burglary and felony criminal damage to school property, police said.

At 3:43 a.m. July 29 officers went to the east side school on a burglary report.

Once there, they discovered a window broken out with rocks - resulting in $300 worth of damage - and found that several school and office supplies were missing, Deputy Chief Jeffrey Swoboda said.

Fingerprints and other evidence on the scene led to Thursday's arrests, police said.

What's more, the ongoing probe may find that the pair did not act alone, Swoboda said.

"The investigation may spawn more people," Swoboda said. "There's the potential for others to be charged as well."

Kane County Judge Bruce W. Lester set Gonzalez's bail at $50,000, and Galeana's at $25,000 - Gonzalez told the judge he is a gang associate with a record.

Neither was able to post bond and were taken to the Kane County jail.

They are both due in court Nov. 3 at the Kane County Judicial Center and could spend between three and 14 years on the burglary charge.