A Chicago man went on a weeks-long “significant crime spree” across the North Side while on bail for a felony narcotics case, officials said Tuesday. Jeremiah Magdaleno, 26, is charged with ten felonies, including the vehicular hijacking of a senior citizen, burglaries, and robberies.
The incidents began on September 28, when Magdaleno allegedly broke into an apartment building in the 1300 block of West Morse and stole up to 20 packages from the mailroom, prosecutors said. The burglary was video recorded.
Police arrested Magdaleno near the Howard CTA station on October 13 and charged him with failing to register as a gun offender and felony possession of a controlled substance, according to CPD records. The next day, Judge Barbara Dawkins released him on his own recognizance.
Then, while free on bond, Magdaleno allegedly launched a nine-day crime spree.
Prosecutors said he stole an SUV that had been left running in the 6200 block of West Newport on October 21 and spray-painted it black.
Five days later, he allegedly broke into a Marathon gas station in the 5600 block of North Lincoln and stole three vehicle titles and a check. The next day, he broke into the same business again, taking 70 packs of Newport cigarettes before escaping in a black Chevy Tahoe, prosecutors said.
On October 29, a 68-year-old man parked in his garage in the 6000 block of North Mozart as Magdaleno rolled up in a black truck. Prosecutors said he hit the man in the face with a metal object and stole the man’s car. Magdaleno’s girlfriend, who had been in the truck’s passenger seat, moved to the driver’s seat and followed him.
Doctors closed a gash on the victim’s face with seven stitches.
Around 2:20 a.m. on October 30, Magdaleno allegedly robbed a 7-Eleven in the 1400 block of West Pratt while armed with a pipe. Prosecutors said he hit the counter with the pipe, forced one employee to empty the register, and ordered another to load cartons of cigarettes into a milk crate. Magdaleno’s girlfriend was allegedly waiting outside.
Finally, at 7:45 a.m. Sunday, a grocery delivery driver who left her car running saw Magdaleno driving away in her Mercedes. Later, while riding in her daughter’s vehicle, the victim spotted Magdaleno driving the Mercedes, and she and her daughter followed it until it pulled into an AutoZone. She contacted Chicago police, who arrested Magdaleno.
Prosecutors said two titles taken from the gas station were found inside the stolen car. They also noted that, while the 68-year-old hijacking victim could not identify Magdaleno, both Magdaleno and his girlfriend did identify the 68-year-old as the person Magdaleno carjacked.
Magdaleno’s public defender said he is homeless and has three children between the ages of three months and five years.
He is charged with three counts of burglary; two counts of possessing a stolen motor vehicle; two counts of armed robbery; aggravated vehicular hijacking of a person over the age of 60; aggravated battery of a person over the age of 60; and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.
Judge Susana Ortiz noted that Magdaleno was accused of a “significant crime spree” as she held him without bail. She also held him without bail for violating bond in his pending narcotics case.
Prosecutors did not announce any charges against his girlfriend.
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