Burglar Uses 'Found Keys' To Let Himself Into Home: Police

EVERGREEN PARK, IL — An Evergreen Park man claims to have found some keys laying on the ground, which he used to enter a woman’s home, prosecutors said. Juan Herrera, 40, appeared before Cook County Judge John Mahoney on a felony burglary charge.

According to the charges, around 8:30 a.m., Sept. 30, Herrera said he found some keys lying on the ground. The prosecutor said Herrera used the keys to let himself into an Evergreen Park home in the 8900 block of South Albany Avenue. When the homeowner came home, the prosecutor said she noticed an unfamiliar bike in front of her house. She saw a man, later identified as Herrera, running out of her house and peddling off on his bike, the prosecutor said.

The woman told police that she followed Herrera in her car. The prosecutor said Herrera ditched his bike and tried to run away on foot. When the woman caught up with him, the prosecutor stated that the two got into a physical altercation. An off-duty firefighter with a conceal-carry license held a gun on Herrera until police arrived, according to the charges.

Police said Herrera was found with 186 pieces of jewelry, which they say he stole from the woman’s home. Herrera allegedly told officers that he found the woman’s house keys in the street.

Bail was set at $50,000. Herrera is due back in court Oct. 25.