Police say they've nabbed Aurora snowplow thief

Aurora investigators gave a new meaning to getting plowed earlier this month, while likely cracking one of the city's more unusual crime sprees.

Thirteen snow plows, valued between $1,000 and $5,000 were reported stolen from private residences and commercial businesses on the city's West side from Oct. 22 to Nov. 30.

The spree came to an abrupt end on Nov. 30, when 46-year-old Aurora resident Emery Jones, of the 800 block of Foran Lane was arrested just hours after the last theft from outside a garage at 178 S. Western Ave,

Kane County authorities charged Jones, on Dec. 2, with one count of felony theft in the case.

The thefts have stopped but Sgt. Rob Waller said police expect to make more arrests in the case based on the unlikelihood that Jones was making off with the several hundred pound blades by himself.

Since Oct. 22, plows have been stolen from Aurora Christian High School, two gas stations in the 300 block of Galena Boulevard; a home on the 1300 block of Foxcroft Drive; and from the 700 block of Aurora Avenue. An 8-foot hydraulic snowplow also was stolen from a service station in the 700 block of New Haven Avenue.

Wallers suggested there may be a market for the plows as truck owners look to pick up a reasonably priced plow to make some extra money this winter.

"We can only assume that they're pretty easy to get rid of at a fair price," he said. "But I've never seen a theft spree like this, of plows, in my 19 years here."