Burglars Batter Way Into Businesses With Bricks: Police

EVERGREEN PARK, IL — Two Chicago men are accused of using landscaping bricks to break into commercial businesses in Evergreen Park. Devalia Brown, 45, and Terrence Jones, 51, appeared before Cook County Judge John Mahoney on felony burglary charges. Jones joined Brown in one of the burglaries, the prosecutor said.

Around 1 a.m. Dec. 6, Evergreen Park police responded to a burglar alarm at Evergreen Pantry, 9860 S. Kedzie Ave. When police arrived, the front glass has been smashed. Cigarettes, cash and lottery tickets were missing. Police said surveillance video captured two men, later identified as Brown and Jones, throwing a landscaping brick through the glass. Jones took a box of cigarettes while Brown grabbed cash from the register, the prosecutor said. Brown was later identified in the video, according to the complaint.

A few days later, around 2 a.m. Dec. 8, the prosecutor said Brown triggered a burglar alarm at Crazy Crab, 9204 S. Western Ave. Officers found that the front glass had been shattered. The cash register was ransacked and robbed of $207, police said. Surveillance video showed a Nissan Altima backing into a handicap spot in the parking lot. According to police, a man, later identified as Brown, threw a brick at the front window twice to get through a second window. The landscaping brick was found on the floor of the restaurant.

The prosecutor told the judge that Brown has seven prior felony convictions, including three for burglary in 2013, 2008 and 2006, for which he was sentenced to the Illinois Department of Corrections.

The judge ordered Brown be held without bond. Brown’s next court date is Dec. 27 in Bridgeview. Jones is being held in lieu of $5,000 bail. Jones is due back in court Dec. 23.