Skokie Man Charged With Pair Of Restaurant Burglaries

SKOKIE, IL — Police said evidence from a pair of break-ins at village restaurants over the summer led investigators to a Skokie man.

Albert Ishu, 52, of the 8300 block of Lowell Avenue, was arrested Wednesday evening at his home, according to Skokie police. The next day, prosecutors approved two counts of burglary against him stemming from incidents in July and August.

On the morning of July 9, the management of Pho Phu Linh Restaurant at 4741 Main St. called police to report they had just discovered a burglary.

A glass door had been smashed out and cash was stolen from the register, according to a Skokie police statement. Police later said it was not known how much was taken.

About four weeks later, police were called to another restaurant for a similar crime scene. On the night of Aug. 4, staff at The Crazy Greek Restaurant, 5051 Oakton St., reported discovering a broken window and cash pilfered from the register, according to the statement.

"Evidence collected from the scenes of both burglaries, processed with assistance from the Northern Illinois Regional Crime Lab, was crucial in the arrest," it said.

A Skokie police spokesperson declined to provide any information about the nature of the evidence that led investigators to Ishu.

Ishu has previous convictions in Cook County for burglary, attempted burglary and forgery, among other things, and completed serving his most recent last year, according to state records.

Skokie police have previously arrested him on suspicion of similar commercial burglaries. Prior to his most recent period of incarceration, Ishu was accused of burglarizing two other Skokie businesses.

As of Tuesday, Ishu remained held at Cook County Jail in lieu of the $5,000 cash portion of his bail. He is due back in court in Skokie on Oct. 23.