Spring Grove squatters charged in burglaries

Two men who admitted squatting in an abandoned Spring Grove home are held in Lake County jail on residential burglary charges.

John Pause, 28, and Todd Carriker, 19, were arraigned Wednesday on burglary charges that stem from an arrest that occurred a month ago, said Lake County Sheriff's Sgt. John Lucas. Their bonds have been set at $100,000 each.

Police arrested the men July 5 in a foreclosed home they were occupying in the 28900 block of Westlake Avenue in Spring Grove.

Police received a tip from a neighbor who suspected people were living in the abandoned home, Lucas said. Carriker told police the home previously belonged to Pause's family.

Officers found items in the home that were reported stolen by another homeowner in the area.

While questioning the men during the July arrest, it was determined they were involved with other burglaries as well, Lucas said. McHenry County Sheriff's officers connected the men to several car burglaries in the Spring Grove area. On two occasions, credit cards were taken from vehicles and used in Lake County to buy cigarettes, police said.

The men have pleaded not guilty to all charges. They have trial dates set for Sept. 8 in Waukegan.