Lake Villa man accused in burglary spree

A 26-year-old Lake Villa man is in custody after going on a burglary spree in Fox Lake and Ingleside early Thursday morning, police said.

Gregory Ramlow is in Lake County jail facing Class X felony charges of burglary and burglary of a motor vehicle. If convicted, he could spend up to 30 years in prison without probation.

Ramlow, who is on parole for several counts of possession of a stolen vehicle, was arrested around 3:40 a.m. Thursday.

Fox Lake police received a call around 3:14 a.m. from a couple who woke up and discovered Ramlow in their house on the 40 block of Lippincott Road, said Chief Michael Behan.

Ramlow had reportedly entered the house through an unlocked door and stole a purse left on the couch. By the time police arrived, he was gone.

Behan said police received a second call around 3:33 a.m. from a homeowner on Mark Lane, who saw Ramlow in his Saab car in the driveway.

"He got into the Saab, started it and was trying to put the car in reverse when the homeowner came down and saw him," Behan said.

Ramlow reportedly took off running, and police stopped him at Lippincott Road and Fern Court.

While police were chasing Ramlow, the contents of the purse stolen from the Lippincott Road house were spilling out, Behan said. Ramlow reportedly had a necklace from the purse on him when he was arrested.

In addition to the Saab and the car parked outside of the Lippincott Road house, police say Ramlow broke into three other vehicles Thursday morning and stole change and jewelry.

"I'm proud of the excellent work done by our third-shift guys," Behan said. "This was the third in-progress crime they have stopped in the last week and half. That comes just from patrolling and doing a diligent job."