Police say they stopped metal theft in progress

A McHenry County sting operation caught four suspects in the act of stealing tens of thousands of pounds of aluminum from a Union business, according to authorities.

The Wood Dale and Crystal Lake police departments tipped off the McHenry County sheriff’s office about the “sophisticated burglary operation” that struck a metal factory in Union on Sunday morning.

Two Chicago men, a Bellwood man and a Westchester man were charged.

It was also discovered that a semitrailer truck used in the theft was stollen from the Bensenville area on Saturday, according to authorities.

The sheriff’s office was alerted Sunday morning to a suspicious SUV on the 6600 block of South Union Road, which was later seen escorting the semitrailer truck to the factory. Police said they stopped the SUV and surrounded the factory once the semitrailer truck drove into the building.

The driver of the semi was arrested when attempting to drive out of the building with the metal. An accomplice attempted the run from the building but was caught, and a fourth suspect was found hiding inside the factory, according to the sheriff’s office.

Jose Feliciano of Bellwood, Gabriel Garcia of Westchester and Wydell Feazell and Roger Sexton of Chicago were all charged with burglary, theft intent of more than $100,000 and conspiracy.

Feliciano, Garcia and Sexton were also charged with possession of a stolen vehicle. Sexton was charged with resisting a peace officer, and Feazell was charged with possession of burglary tools.