Burglars nabbed in Gurnee

Gurnee police say two men are charged in connection with burglaries in the village and Highland Park. Joliet residents Sterling Washington, 26, of the 500 block of 129th Infantry Drive and Thomas Townsend, 29, of the 1000 block of John Street, were charged with attempted theft, possession of burglary tools and burglary. Gurnee police were called to a report of a burglary at the Dairy Queen on Old Grand Avenue at 9:14 a.m. Wednesday. An undisclosed amount of cash and gift certificates were taken, police said, after a window was broken to gain entry. Cops were called at 11:29 a.m. Wednesday to a yogurt shop in the 5200 block of West Grand Avenue. A rear door was pried open for entry. Police said cash and gift certificates were stolen there as well. Gurnee authorities said Washington and Townsend were picked up later Wednesday by Lake Forest police for attempted theft and possession of burglary tools. Police said the suspects had evidence linking them to the Gurnee crimes. Investigators also linked the duo to a Wednesday night church burglary in Highland Park. Washington and Townsend were held in lieu of $150,000 bond at the Lake County jail in Waukegan.