Man awaiting trial for 8 package thefts in Boystown is now charged with fresh burglary in Wrigleyville

Gordon | CPD

A career burglar who was charged with eight separate thefts of packages in the Boystown neighborhood at Christmastime was arrested last week and charged with burglary again.

According to court records, a 19th District (Town Hall) tactical unit was patrolling Wrigleyville around 8:15 last Thursday evening when they saw Dennis Gordon walk out of a home in the 3800 block of North Sheffield. The officers recognized Gordon because they arrested him in December and they knew he did not live in the house he just walked out of. So, they kept an eye on the 65-year-old as he walked down the street and used a credit card to pry his way into another home, the officers said.

Police detained Gordon inside the second home and allegedly found several bottles of cleaning fluids in his duffle bag. When the cops returned to the first home that they saw Gordon walking out of, they found an empty Amazon box with a receipt for the cleaning products, they said.

Gordon was charged with felony residential burglary and criminal trespass to residence. Judge John Lyke revoked Gordon’s recognizance bond in the package theft cases and said Gordon could go free in the new case on a recognizance bond once the earlier matter is cleared up.

Back on Dec. 15th, Gordon was arrested by the same police officers after a witness reported seeing Gordon stealing packages in Boystown. The cops stopped Gordon in the 3400 block of North Broadway and found him opening a box that contained a woman’s fur vest and a woman’s green knit sweater. He told officers he stole that box and seven others because he wanted something for Christmas, officers said.

In addition to the collection of boxes, police said Gordon was also carrying another man’s MasterCard, another person’s insurance card, and a set of keys that he said he “found on the street.”

Gordon was charged with one felony count and seven misdemeanor counts of theft of lost or mislaid property before being released on a recognizance bond.

According to state records, Gordon has been repeatedly sent to prison and released early to commit more crimes. Among the sentences he has received over the years are:

• A 4-year sentence for burglary in 1978
• A 10-year sentence for armed robbery in 1978
• A 6-year sentence for burglary in 1983
• A 24-year sentence (yes, 24 years) in 1987
• A 7-year sentence for attempted burglary in 1999
• A 6-year sentence for retail theft in 2003
• A 3-year sentence for burglary in 2010
• A 2-year sentence for theft in 2012
• A 1-year sentence for theft in 2013
• A 2-year sentence for theft in 2015
• A 2-year sentence for possessing three or more lost credit cards in 2015

Rookie Mistake

Corrado | CPD

A West Ridge man has been arrested and charged with burglarizing a Lincoln Square apartment after he allegedly made one of the most basic criminal mistakes: He sold stolen property at a pawn shop, according to police.

Twenty-year-old Austin Corrado was arrested at his home last week after the victim identified him as the person who was seen leaving an apartment in the 4800 block of North Fairfield in Lincoln Square with the owner’s MacBook, Amazon tablet, chargers, and coins, police said. Investigators said that the Amazon tablet had been sold by Corrado to a Rogers Park pawn shop.

Corrado was charged with felony residential burglary. Judge John Lyke released him on a recognizance bond.
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About CWBChicago 4259 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.