Island Lake cops nab burglary suspect

Island Lake police have arrested the man they believe is responsible for a series of burglaries this month along State Road (Route 176).

Joseph L. Stortz, 39, 4113 Beech St., Island Lake, is charged with one count of burglary and one count of attempted burglary, both felonies, police said Sunday.

Additional charges are pending, police said.

Police said Stortz was involved in the burglary or forced entry of six businesses during the week of March 9-15. He took anywhere from $40 to $200 in cash from each business he was able to access, and in one case, he also stole jewelry, police said.

Stortz was arrested Saturday night by officers who observed a man matching the suspect's description leaving the rear of a business complex at 125 E. State Road carrying an empty box.

Police asked Stortz about the box and he told officers he found it by the Dumpster behind the complex and was going to use it to help a friend move, police said.

Officers then saw that the rear door to one of the businesses had fresh pry marks on the door lock. They checked the area and found a stack of boxes identical to the one Stortz carried, with what was suspected to be the main burglary tool resting on top of them.

The tool, police said, was missing a tip that appeared to match a piece collected earlier at another burglarized location.

Stortz was taken into custody and transported to Lake County jail in Waukegan. Bond information was not available Sunday.