GALESBURG, Ill. — Police have filed burglary charges in three unrelated cases this month.
At 9:27 p.m. Oct. 7, officers responded to a vacant property in the 1400 block of South Farnham Street for a trespassing report. Upon arrival, the owners of the property told officers they had witnessed the trespassing on security camera footage. Officers were also told that a sink had been broken and the brass faucet stolen, in addition to battery cables being taken from a tractor on the property.
The estimated total value of the stolen items is listed as $135.
Officers were shown the security footage, which, according to a police report, showed the first suspect, identified as Rodney D. Smith, 63, entering a shed on the property at about 5 p.m. the previous day. Footage also showed a second suspect, identified as Thomas D. Johnson, 62, on the property at about 9:30 p.m.
Smith’s vehicle, also seen in the footage, was located in the 600 block of West South Street, where officers made contact with both suspects.
The suspects told officers they had taken a refrigerator and other items from the Farnham Street property because someone had told them they could. However, the person they claimed gave them permission was not the property owner. The faucet and battery cables were found in their possession.
Smith and Johnson were then taken into custody. On Oct. 8, both suspects were charged with Class 2 felony burglary. Both have been released with conditions and are scheduled for a preliminary hearing Nov. 4.
At 3:33 p.m. Oct. 3, officers responded to a call of a burglary in progress in the zero block of South Pleasant Avenue. Upon arrival, the suspect, identified as Niecia M. Fields, 43, was found outside the residence. The police report notes that multiple calls involving Fields as an unwanted person at the address had been received in the prior week.
A witness told police they had seen Fields attempting to pry open a window to the residence and showed photos of the activity to officers.
Fields told police she had permission to enter the home to remove some of her belongings. Police were unable to make contact with the resident, so they released Fields at that time and warned her she might be arrested later.
Officers later made contact with the resident, who told them Fields had no property there and was unwelcome. The resident also wanted Fields arrested for attempting to break in.
At 6:10 a.m. the next day, officers were again dispatched to the address, where Fields was again outside the residence. She was then taken into custody.
On Oct. 6, Fields was charged with Class 2 felony burglary.
Fields has since been released with conditions, and her next scheduled court appearance is a preliminary hearing Oct. 27.
At 11:31 a.m. Sept. 11, officers were dispatched to a residence in the 900 block of Arnold Street for a verbal domestic incident.
Upon arrival, a resident told police the suspect, Larry L. Black Jr., 34, was not welcome at the home. She said she arrived home to find Black taking a bicycle from the garage. When she told him she was calling the police, he fled on foot southbound through yards.
Officers located the suspect in the area of Whitesboro and Losey streets, where he was taken into custody.
Black told officers he had been given the garage security code previously and was told he could take the bicycle.
He was given a notice to appear and, on Oct. 2, was charged with Class 3 felony burglary. He is scheduled for a court appearance Oct. 31.
