Gilberts police arrest 'car-hopping' burglars

Two suspected burglars were arrested after they went "car-hopping" early Sunday in a Gilberts subdivision, police said Monday.

Julian E. Champaphonevilay, 17, of the 0-99 block of Woodland Park Circle, Gilberts, and Alex Leiras, 20, of the 11300 block of Middle Town Lane, Huntley, each face three counts of felony burglary to a motor vehicle, criminal trespass and unlawful consumption of alcohol.

Gilberts Police Sgt. Jack Rood said the pair was stopped shortly before 3 a.m. Sunday after police received a report of two suspicious men in hooded sweatshirts walking on the 100 block of Boulder Drive. Responding officers found them carrying two GPS units, a cell phone and prescription drugs, he said.

"One stated they were car-hopping, going car to car and looking in unlocked vehicles" in the Timber Trails subdivision, Rood said.

Police said they are also investigating whether the men were involved in other burglaries reported last year in Gilberts and in a neighboring town.

According to court records, Leiras has no prior criminal history in Kane County, while Champaphonevilay has two unrelated cases pending. The teen was charged with criminal property damage in Gilberts on Dec. 2, 2009, and unlawful possession of cannabis and disorderly conduct in Hampshire on Jan. 14.

Both men were being held in the county jail Monday, pending a preliminary court hearing. It was unclear if either has an attorney.