The shoes fit the crime, Island Lake detective says

A trio of thieves who burglarized an Island Lake home might have gotten away with the caper - if it weren't for one suspect's choice of footwear, police said Tuesday.

The burglars stole prescription medicine, an mp3 player, jewelry, collectible coins and other items Friday out of the house on the 700 block of Dartmouth Drive, police said.

They also stole a pair of black size 11 Globe gym shoes, police said.

And when one of the suspects was arrested later in the day on an unrelated drug charge, he was wearing those shoes, detective Matt du Chemin said.

Police officer Barry Huedepohl was working both cases, recognized the shoes as the suspect was leaving the station and pulled him back inside for additional questioning, du Chemin said.

The suspect, a 16-year-old Island Lake boy, admitted to the burglary, du Chemin said. All of the stolen items eventually were recovered, police said.

Du Chemin praised Huedepohl for his sharp-eyed police work.

"His attention to detail definitely created a great outcome," du Chemin said.

The boy, whose name wasn't released because of his age, will be charged in juvenile court with residential burglary, possession of cannabis and violating curfew. He is being held at the Illinois Youth Center in St. Charles.

Two additional suspects also were arrested and charged with felony counts of residential burglary, possession of cannabis and theft. They were identified as: Joseph J. Sykes, 20, of the 3300 block of Southport, Island Lake; and Christian Theriaut, 17, of the 800 block of Saratoga Circle, Island Lake.

The items stolen from the Dartmouth Drive house were recovered at the suspects' homes and other locations where they had been hidden, police said. The thieves spent some rare, silver-dollar coins they had stolen at a local gas station, du Chemin said.

"They had spent them at face value for gas," he said.

The coins were recovered.

The stolen items were valued at $2,700, police said.