Snowy footprints lead to suspect's arrest in thefts from Bartlett cars

Footprints in fresh snow led to the arrest of a man accused of entering unlocked vehicles early Saturday, Bartlett police said.

Christopher Luper, 20, of 804 Brookside Drive in Bartlett, was charged with two counts of criminal trespass to motor vehicle, authorities said.

Police Sgt. Jessica Crowley said a homeowner scared off Luper after he was spotted trying to enter an unlocked vehicle parked on a driveway on West Country Drive. She said the witness quickly called police to the 200 block of West Country, northeast of Bartlett and Stearns roads.

Crowley said officers who responded at 2:55 a.m. Saturday noticed footprints in the fresh snow at the West Country Drive house. She said the tracks led cops to Luper's home roughly a block south on Brookside Drive.

Luper didn't resist officers and was cooperative, Crowley said. She said Luper entered at least two vehicles and stole one item, which she declined to identify.

"Moral of the story was, don't do anything like this in fresh snowfall," Crowley said.

Luper was freed on a recognizance bond Saturday, pending a Feb. 26 appearance in DuPage County Circuit Court. Crowley said the item Luper grabbed from one of the vehicles was returned to its owner.