Cary, Wisconsin residents charged with breaking into Barrington cars

Tips from an alert homeowner and delivery driver led to the arrest of four veteran car burglars, Barrington police said Tuesday.

A resident called police when she noticed a suspicious car with temporary Wisconsin license plates parked in her cul-de-sac at about 4 a.m. Thursday. Police said they found a woman hiding in a 2001 Dodge Intrepid on the 100 block of Glendale Avenue.

While questioning the woman, police noticed a laptop computer, digital camera and designer glasses in the car. At about the same time, a delivery driver about two blocks away called police to report that he saw a man breaking into a parked car.

About then, three men returned to the car; two arrived soaked in sweat and completely out of breath, reports said.

After further investigation, the woman and the three men were arrested and charged.

Willie E. Nelson, 30, of the 5600 block of 73rd St., Kenosha, was charged with felony burglary for forcing entry into a car, breaking a window with a screwdriver and stealing a laptop computer. His bond was set at $30,000.

Nicholas A. Komater, 20, of the 0-100 block of Oak Valley Drive, Cary; Gabriela M. Estrada, 20, of the 1000 block of Sheridan Road, Kenosha; and Lucas M. Morgan, 19, of the 6300 block of 51st Ave., Kenosha, were all charged with six counts of burglary. Their bonds ranged from $25,000 to $40,000.

Police said Komater, of Cary, was on probation for burglary. He was the one who suggested to the others that they hit the Barrington area because of the demographics and the fact that people often leave their cars unlocked, police said.

Officers were able to return the stolen property to victims. Stolen items included GPS units, wallets, a purse, a set of keys to a Corvette, SM radio satellite receiver and about $300 in cash.

Police encouraged residents to keep car doors locked at all times and not to leave valuable items in plain sight.