LITH cops nab man who tried to steal Christmas

Call them the Grinches police said tried to steal Christmas from a Lake in the Hills family.

Police caught Luis M. Rosado, 31, of the 2100 block of North McVicker Avenue, Chicago, and four Carpentersville teens stealing Christmas gifts and other items Monday from a house in the 2900 block of Brisbane Drive, according to reports.

Officers were dispatched to the home at 10:53 a.m. on reports that someone in the house thought an intruder was inside as well.

Police arrived to find Rosado and three of the boys leaving the area, said Sgt. Terri Vollmer.

The fourth teenage boy turned up inside the house while police were checking it for safety, Vollmer said.

Officers recovered several large duffel bags that contained wrapped Christmas presents and other items that were not identified in police reports, Vollmer said.

Vollmer said the group entered the house by prying open a door.

The four boys — three are 15 and one is 16 — were charged with residential burglary, theft and criminal damage to property and were released to their parents, Vollmer said.

Their cases will be heard in McHenry County's juvenile court.

Rosado was charged with residential burglary, a Class 1 felony, criminal trespass to residence and criminal damage to residence, both Class A misdemeanors.

Police said he is also wanted on a pair of traffic warrants in Kane and DuPage counties that total $700.

As for the most recent charges, Rosado's bail was set Tuesday morning at $50,000 and he is due in McHenry County court for a hearing Thursday.

If found guilty of residential burglary, Rosado could spend between four and 15 years in prison.

Meanwhile, police will see what they can do to return the family's presents before Christmas.

“At least it had a happy ending,” Vollmer said. “(Rosado) didn't get away, he didn't get their gifts and nobody got hurt.”