3 Elgin teens charged in “smash and grab” cellphone store burglary

Elgin police have arrested three teenagers in connection with a “smash and grab” burglary that took place in a cellular phone store, police said.

Alexander Bizefski, 18, Awaan Woods, 17, and Lacy Ousley, 18, all of the 500 block of West Highland Avenue in Elgin, were arrested Tuesday night and each charged with one count of burglary, police said. Bail was set Thursday morning at $20,000 for Bizefski and Ousley and at $10,000 for Woods, authorities said.

About 10:15 p.m. Tuesday, police discovered the front window had been smashed with a rock and that numerous cellular phones were missing from the Extreme Wireless store, on the 100 block of South Grove Avenue.

Soon after, police found Bizefski nearby and arrested him, Lt. Dan O’Shea said. Later on, officers arrested Ousley and Woods at their Highland Avenue home.

According to a police report, Ousley offered to pay Bizefski $200 if he broke into the store and stole the phones. Ousley and Woods watched for officers while Bizefski stole the merchandise, reports said. They all ran off when they thought police were approaching, reports said.

Four phones were recovered from the teens’ home, but police continue to search for several others as nine were reported stolen, according to a police report.

The teens are scheduled to appear in court May 15.

If found guilty of burglary, a Class 2 felony, the teens could spend between three and seven years in prison.