Alert neighbor, quick police response foil burglars

March 23, 2015 – An alert neighbor and the quick response of the Oak Park Police Department led to an adult and three juveniles being caught in midst of a residential burglary in south Oak Park early Friday afternoon.

The neighbor called 911 just before 1 p.m. to report seeing unknown individuals and hearing the sound of breaking glass in a nearby backyard in the first 1100 block of Clinton Avenue.

When Police arrived within moments of the call they found the crew – an adult female, two male juveniles and one female juvenile – still on the scene. All were apprehended without incident.

Jyarea Covens, 22, of the 4200 block of W. 16th St., Chicago, and all three juveniles were each charged with one count of residential burglary.

Covens is being held in Cook County Jail in lieu of $2,500 bond. The two male juveniles, both 17 years old, are in juvenile detention, while a 16-year-old female was referred to court and released to her mother.

The suspects apparently gained entry to the single-family home by breaking the glass in a basement door with a landscape block. No one was home at the time of the incident.

“Incidents of this kind underscore the importance of neighbors looking out for each other and not hesitating to call 911 when they see or hear something suspicious,” said Oak Park Police Chief Rick C. Tanksley.

“We urge residents to never hesitate to call 911 – even if they are not sure a crime is in progress or about to happen. Answering a call that turns out not to be an incident is much better than being called in to investigate after a crime has been committed.”

Police say information obtained during the course of the investigation may lead to solving several other Oak Park burglaries.