Prosecutors: Thieves stole cash, energy drinks, pastries from Schaumburg restaurant, bakery

Three men and one woman ranging in age from 18 to 21 were charged with stealing cash, cash registers, pastries, energy drinks and milk from a Schaumburg restaurant and a Schaumburg bakery on six occasions in January and February.

Tammar Martinez, 18, and Juan Arellano, 19, both of Bartlett, were charged with burglary and given $30,000 I-bonds, which means they do not have to post any money to be released from custody. Josue Lopez, 21, and Marco Salgado, 20, both of Mount Prospect, were also charged with burglary. Each was ordered held on $12,000 bail.

Prosecutors say the owner of a restaurant on the 700 block of East Schaumburg Road noticed the exit door shattered and $200 missing from the cash drawer Jan 7. That day, the owner of a bakery on the 1000 block of North Salem Drive found its front door shattered and two cash registers and $200 missing.

Video from the bakery shows one defendant using tongs to put pastries into a pastry bag, Assistant Cook County State's Attorney Jennifer Gates said. Meanwhile, another defendant attempted to open a cash register, Gates said. Unable to do so, the defendant used a small hatchet to cut cords and remove the register, Gates said.

On Jan. 9, the bakery owner noticed another broken window and discovered the following items missing: $200, camera and surveillance equipment, a laptop, paperwork, energy drinks and milk.

The next day, Hoffman Estates police watched video surveillance from an apartment complex behind the bakery. Video from one of the apartment vestibules shows a juvenile resident letting the defendants in, Gates said. In the basement, officers discovered stolen bakery items, including paperwork and drinks, Gates said.

Subsequent break-ins occurred at both businesses, prompting officers to increase patrols of the area. Learning of a break-in at the restaurant Feb. 7, officers headed to the bakery, where they saw three people fleeing, Gates said. In the parking lot, officers picked up Martinez, who had car keys, a walkie talkie and a cellphone, Gates said. They eventually arrested the other three defendants.

Excluding the damaged doors and windows, Gates estimated the business owners' losses at $2,800.

Martinez, Arellano and Salgado return to court March 1. Lopez returns to court Feb. 15.