Burglar Busted After Lincoln Park Woman Barricades Herself In Room, Texts For Help

A 19-year-old Humboldt Park man is charged with burglary after allegedly breaking into an occupied Lincoln Park apartment, causing a woman who lives there to barricade herself into a room and text an acquaintance who works in law enforcement for help.

Craig (Cook Co. Sheriff’s Dept)

Eric D. Craig faces one count of burglary. Bail is set at $150,000.

Around 12:45 Friday morning, a woman who lives in the 800 block of W. Lill texted a California Highway Patrol officer to tell him that she had locked herself in a room because there were people in her apartment.

That officer contacted an Illinois State Police officer who, in turn, contacted the 19th district. Incredibly, despite the zig-zag communications, officers arrived in time to see a man exit the back door of the woman’s apartment.

Craig was taken into custody moments later, bleeding badly from one hand. Police believe he injured his hand during the alleged break-in.

“Major Burglary” At Lincoln Square Verizon Store

The targeted Verizon store (Google)

Up to $57,000 worth of phones and tablets were stolen from a Lincoln Square Verizon store by burglars who took a creative route to the booty.

Sometime late Sunday or early Monday, the back door of a neighboring storefront was pried open in the 4700 block of N. Lincoln Avenue. Then, the thieves knocked a hole in the drywall to access the Verizon store and its safe, police said.

No one is in custody.

Home Break-Ins Continue

Despite several recent arrests, burglaries of homes continue to be reported at break-neck speed in Lakeview and Lincoln Park. Among the latest confirmed incidents:

• Forced entry through the back door in the 1500 block of Waveland on Monday.

• Forced entry to an apartment in the 3600 block of N. Clark sometime between November 9 and November 18. An attempt burglary was also reported in the same building on Monday.

• Forced entry through a rear glass door in the 1900 block of W. Wolfram on Tuesday.

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About CWBChicago 4360 Articles
CWBChicago was created in 2013 by five residents of Wrigleyville and Boystown who had grown disheartened with inaccurate information that was being provided at local Community Policing (CAPS) meetings. Our coverage area has expanded since then to cover Lincoln Park, River North, The Loop, Uptown, and other North Side Areas. But our mission remains unchanged: To provide original public safety reporting with better context and greater detail than mainstream media outlets.