Two men charged with hijacking, burglary in Hoffman Estates incident

Two men have been charged with aggravated hijacking and burglary following a carjacking in Hoffman Estates early Tuesday morning, Hoffman Estates Police announced Wednesday.

John Egelston, 21, of the 1900 block of Winston Lane in Schaumburg, and Alexander Hoegner, 20, of the 600 block of Bode Drive in Hoffman Estates, were charged following the carjacking of a woman's 1999 Nissan Altima at 2:20 a.m. Tuesday, said Lt. Rich Russo of the Hoffman Estates Police Department.

The appeared in bond court Wednesday in Rolling Meadows and were both given $200,000 bonds.

The two were also linked to a smash-and-grab burglary from Radio Shack on Golf Road in Hoffman Estates, Russo said. The burglary, which netted the offenders about $320 with of items, took place right after the carjacking, Russo said.

Egelston and Hoegner approached a 36-year-old woman in the parking lot of an apartment complex on the 700 block of Salem Drive, Russo said. The female victim had just exited and locked her car door, when one of the men grabbed the woman by her hair and forced her head down, displaying a knife.

The man, who was wearing a ski mask and black gloves, demanded the keys to her car and her cell phone, Russo said. After getting them, the offender pushed the victim to the ground, ran to her car, jumped in and sped away. The woman ran inside and reported the car theft.

Police put out a bulletin, and the car was spotted by Streamwood police a short time later on Route 59. Following a short vehicle chase and a short foot chase, the two men were taken into custody, Russo said.

He added additional charges may be filed in Streamwood.