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| Darrell Thomas | CPD |
Two men with extensive criminal records, both of whom are on parole, have been charged with committing separate strings of burglaries in the Edgewater neighborhood, according to police, court, and state records.
Darrell Thomas, 45, of Edgewater, was arrested last Friday after CPD launched a sting operation to catch the person responsible for a series of package thefts in the area, police said.
An officer in the 24th District planted two decoy boxes in a hallway of a residential building on the 6100 block of North Winthrop and then watched a real-time camera feed of the packages. The officer watched as Thomas pried his way into the building and picked up the bait boxes around 3 a.m. on March 8th, police said. Thomas was immediately arrested by waiting officers.
Prosecutors charged Thomas with felony possession of burglary tools and two felony counts of burglary for package thefts that were reported on Winthrop on Jan. 29th and March 8th. Judge Mary Marubio set his bail at $3,000, which means he can go free to await trial by posting a deposit of $300.
State records show that Thomas was released early on parole last May after serving half of a 12-year sentence for burglary. The Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) has refused to revoke Thomas’ parole despite his arrest last week.
Thomas was previously sentenced to prison for three years for attempted burglary in 2010; five years for attempted burglary in 2008; four years for attempted burglary in 2006; four concurrent seven-year terms for aggravated battery of police in 1998; five years for burglary in 1998; three years for burglary in 1996; four years for burglary in 1995; and two concurrent three-year terms for burglary in 1993.
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| Idius Walker | CPD |
• Idius Walker, a 40-year-old Oak Park man, was arrested moments after he committed a series of burglaries in Edgewater last Thursday afternoon, according to police. Officers responded to a burglary-in-progress call around 4 p.m. in the 6000 block of North Paulina. Arriving officers saw Walker running from the scene, and they chased him down nearby, police said.
Walker was allegedly carrying a backpack that contained proceeds from burglaries including several pieces of jewelry, cash, and coins. Police said Walker told them he “found the backpack on Paulina.”
Instead, police believe he broke into two apartments in the same building and then ran away after trying to break into a third apartment.
During questioning, officers learned that Walker was wanted by detectives because he had been identified as the man who tried to drive over a police officer who responded to a burglary call in Norwood Park on Jan. 19th.
Walker is charged felony aggravated assault with a motor vehicle; felony attempted burglary, and three felony counts of burglary. Judge Mary Marubio ordered him held without bail. IDOC has also said that they will file to revoke his parole.
State records show that Walker was paroled last April after serving half of a combined nine-year sentence for burglary and theft. His previous prison sentences include six years for burglary in 2010; eight years for burglary in 2006; four years for theft in 2003; 30 months for obstructing justice in 2002; two years for forgery in 1999; and three years for burglary in 1999.
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