Cops: Wood Dale residents foil burglary attempt

Officials say good police work and cooperative residents helped stop an attempted robbery early Thursday morning in Wood Dale.

Police received a 911 call just before 1:30 a.m. Thursday from residents of a home on the 200 block of North Central Avenue, reporting a strange noise. They told the dispatcher they believed someone was trying to break into their home, Deputy Chief Mike Rivas said.

Rivas said officers were at the scene within minutes and arrested Joel Galindo, 22, of the 300 block of N. Hemlock Avenue in Wood Dale, who Rivas said was near the scene. DuPage County state’s attorney’s officials later charged him with two counts of residential burglary, two counts of attempted residential burglary, and one count of resisting arrest.

Galindo’s additional burglary charges stem from burglaries that had happened around the same area of homes in the past four months. Rivas said police had “done a good job” canvassing the area and making residents aware of the burglaries. As a result, he said, residents knew to be aware of any strange activity.

“It was the quick action of the residents whose home he was trying to break into,” Rivas said. “If it wasn’t for them calling immediately, he might have gotten away that time.”

Officials did not immediately have details about Galindo’s bail information or next court date.