Wheaton man faces burglary charges - again

Tracy R. Hopkins was free on parole for less than two months when police said they nabbed the burglar red-handed while he was toting two stolen guns from a looted home.

Hopkins is accused of a July 31 burglary of a house on the 1700 block of North President Street in Wheaton. He pleaded not guilty this week.

The 45-year-old Wheaton man has a long criminal history documented in court records that date back to 1980 when he received 30-months' probation for a Bellwood burglary.

In the next three decades, Hopkins was arrested about 20 times on burglary-related offenses in three states. He's been in and out of prison for burglarizing homes across Illinois, including Cook, Lake and DuPage counties.

In fact, Hopkins was just paroled June 6 after serving half of a nine-year prison term for breaking into an elderly woman's house in summer 2004 in Wheaton. He moved into an apartment on Lorraine Road in Wheaton upon his release.

It was about that time that Wheaton Cmdr. Joseph Eversole said police began investigating reports of residential burglaries in the same east-side neighborhood where Hopkins lived.

Eversole said police were familiar with Hopkins because of his past. They began keeping an eye on him.

"He's a burglar. That's what he does," Eversole said. "So, it was just a matter of catching him in the act. His (modus operandi) was to ring the doorbell and wait. If no one answered, then he'd go around to the back door and break it in."

Meanwhile, on July 31, a male homeowner reported a suspicious incident in which a man rang his doorbell and asked about buying a car. The homeowner was not selling one and, after the man left, the homeowner called 911.

Within minutes, police spotted Hopkins walking nearby. They kept him under surveillance. Eversole said it didn't take long before Hopkins broke into the house on North President Street. Police said they arrested him with the proceeds, including two stolen guns.

Hopkins is being held in the DuPage County jail on a $250,000 bond. He is charged with residential burglary, armed habitual offender and aggravated possession of a stolen firearm by a felon.

Prosecutor Steven Knight said Hopkins faces up to 30 years in prison if he is convicted of the latest allegation. In past court cases, Hopkins has said he burglarizes to feed a drug addiction.

He is due in court Oct. 20 before DuPage Circuit Judge John Kinsella.