Man gets probation for car burglaries

A Grayslake man was placed on probation Friday when he admitted breaking into several cars in a neighborhood in unincorporated Lake County.

Derek Kaye, 19, pleaded guilty to criminal trespass to a motor vehicle during a hearing before Lake County Circuit Judge Fred Foreman.

Assistant State's Attorney Scott Hoffert said Kaye and Benjamin Park, 18, also of Grayslake, were arrested during the early morning hours of March 23.

Hoffert said a resident of the 1000 block of Mainsail Drive near Grayslake saw the pair breaking into cars and called police, who arrested Kaye at the scene.

Park was located a short distance away from the cars, which Hoffert said were missing GPS devices and clothing their owners had left inside.

Both were charged with felony burglary, but Hoffert said he agreed to reduce the charge against Kaye to the misdemeanor in exchange for his pleas.

Foreman also ordered Kaye, of the 200 block of McMillan Street, to pay a $500 fine as part of his sentence.

Park, of the 500 block of Shakespeare Drive, has pleaded not guilty to burglary and is due to appear in court July 14.

Hoffert said Park faces a sentence of up to seven years in prison if convicted after a trial.