Will County sheriff’s police catch burglar from Midlothian red-handed
By Janet Lundquist jlundquist@stmedianetwork.com January 7, 2013 5:48PM
Michael Eazelle | Supplied photo
Updated: February 9, 2013 6:26AM
Police say they have caught a burglar who may be responsible for up to 20 break-ins in the eastern and central parts of Will County.
Michael J. Eazelle, 53, of Midlothian, was caught red-handed by sheriff’s deputies who followed him and waited while he burglarized a business in New Lenox township last week.
He was arrested after he emerged from the business, and the owner identified the items as belonging to the business, said Ken Kaupas, deputy chief of the sheriff’s office.
About two weeks ago, during a traffic stop, a police officer noticed Eazelle was hauling a number of items in his pickup truck that looked like they could be stolen, Kaupas said.
Sheriff’s police began to watch Eazelle, Kaupas said, and about 3 a.m. Thursday followed him to the business near Laraway and Spencer roads and waited while he burglarized it.
Eazelle was also charged with three additional burglaries in Green Garden, Monee and New Lenox townships, Kaupas said.
Eazelle took anything of value — tools, compressors, appliances, garage door openers, Kaupas said.
Investigators believe he was involved in 15 to 20 other unsolved burglaries that date back to mid-summer.
This was Eazelle’s first arrest in Will County, but he has a record of arrests in Cook County that dates back to 1978, Kaupas said.
“We’re hoping this will be enough to send Mr. Eazelle at least to prison,” Kaupas said.
He is being held in the Will County jail in lieu of $10,000 bail.
