Four charged in string of home burglaries

Des Plaines police have arrested four men suspected of a series of residential burglaries and vehicle thefts in several communities.

The Des Plaines men, ages 16 to 22, were charged with felony residential burglary after police witnessed one of the suspects flee from a stolen vehicle last week, authorities said. Around 2:30 a.m. Aug. 11, Des Plaines patrol division officers saw a car with illegally tinted windows in the area of River Road and Oakton Street, Cmdr. Dan Niemann said. At the same time, a dispatcher notified police that a house was broken into and a car was stolen matching the description of the vehicle with the tinted windows.

Police arrested Alejandro Martinez, 18, of the 8800 block of Robin Drive in Des Plaines, as he tried to flee. Police questioned Martinez and said he and three other men are implicated in several more residential burglaries in Des Plaines, unincorporated Maine Township, Morton Grove, Niles and Lincolnwood.

Flat screen TVs, computers, credit cards and motor vehicles were among the items taken. The municipalities are working in conjunction with Des Plaines police to investigate the burglaries.

In addition to Martinez, charged with residential burglary are Mario Sandoval, 22, of the 1900 block of South Birch Street; Daniel Ramirez, 19, of the 9300 block of Bay Colony Drive; and a 16-year-old male juvenile. Ramirez and Martinez were also charged with felony motor vehicle theft. Ramirez had an additional resisting arrest charge and Martinez faces a violation of supervision for a previous misdemeanor cannabis conviction, Cook County State's Attorney's office spokesman Andy Conklin said.

A Cook County judge set bond at $10,000 for Sandoval, $35,000 for Ramirez and $40,000 for Martinez. The 16-year-old was released to his parent.

The suspects are due back in court Wednesday in Skokie.