Thirsty car burglar accepts plea deal

There is a reason most burglars move on once they have completed their work, Tamara Franz learned Tuesday.

Franz, 26, of Waukegan, pleaded guilty to a reduced charge in Lake County Circuit Court in a case in which officials said she was spotted rummaging through a car parked outside a Gurnee restaurant one moment and sitting at the establishment's bar the next.

Assistant State's Attorney Ryan Koehl said a patron of In Laws in Gurnee saw a woman later identified as Franz going though an unlocked car parked outside the eatery on Nov. 12.

By the time the witness was able to go inside the restaurant and ask for help, Koehl said, the intruder had exited the car and was nowhere to be found.

Police were called a short time later when the witness again saw Franz, this time having a drink at the In Laws' bar.

Franz was originally charged with felony burglary to a motor vehicle, but Koehl agreed to reduce the charge to misdemeanor criminal trespass to a motor vehicle in exchange for Franz's plea.

Associate Judge Daniel Shanes placed Franz on court supervision for a year and ordered her to perform 50 hours of public service.