01-05-2008, 08:49 PM
Man Under Car Leads To 4 Arrests - News Story - WMAQ | Chicago
Man Under Car Leads To 4 Arrests
Quartet Due In Court Jan. 10
Police said four people were arrested Thursday night after they spotted a man lying underneath a car with a battery-powered saw in the Lakeview neighborhood.
Police said in a news release on Friday that 21-year-old Michael Blissit, 19-year-old Robby Owens, 20-year-old Keyshawn Jones and 27-year-old Tiffany Grant were each charged with burglary. Blissit was also charged with possession of burglary tools.
Police said a tactical team from the 23rd District responded to a radio call of a suspicious person in the 600 block of West Cornelia Avenue lying underneath a green Toyota sedan, with another male standing next to the vehicle, acting as a lookout, at around 11:25 p.m. According to the news release, the officers, aware of recent reports concerning the thefts of catalytic converters, spotted Owens yelling in the direction of Blissit as the officers approached the vehicle.
Blissit allegedly slithered from under the car, according to the news release, and police said he discarded a power saw along the curb. Both Blissit and Owens then allegedly attempted to enter the side door of an awaiting Chevrolet van that contained the driver, Jones,(comma) and Grant, who were both acting as additional lookouts.
Officers discovered that Blissit was attempting to cut off the catalytic converter, according to the news release, from the parked Toyota sedan.
Police said the catalytic converter is a valuable commodity to thieves who are able to resell the device to metal scrap yards, where it is stripped of several precious metals, including platinum, that are easily recycled. Police said they recovered various saw blades from both Blissit and the van, along with two catalytic converters. Police said they were investigating whether the group is linked to any similar burglaries.
All four were scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 10, the release stated.
Copyright 2008 by NBC5.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Man Under Car Leads To 4 Arrests
Quartet Due In Court Jan. 10
Police said four people were arrested Thursday night after they spotted a man lying underneath a car with a battery-powered saw in the Lakeview neighborhood.
Police said in a news release on Friday that 21-year-old Michael Blissit, 19-year-old Robby Owens, 20-year-old Keyshawn Jones and 27-year-old Tiffany Grant were each charged with burglary. Blissit was also charged with possession of burglary tools.
Police said a tactical team from the 23rd District responded to a radio call of a suspicious person in the 600 block of West Cornelia Avenue lying underneath a green Toyota sedan, with another male standing next to the vehicle, acting as a lookout, at around 11:25 p.m. According to the news release, the officers, aware of recent reports concerning the thefts of catalytic converters, spotted Owens yelling in the direction of Blissit as the officers approached the vehicle.
Blissit allegedly slithered from under the car, according to the news release, and police said he discarded a power saw along the curb. Both Blissit and Owens then allegedly attempted to enter the side door of an awaiting Chevrolet van that contained the driver, Jones,(comma) and Grant, who were both acting as additional lookouts.
Officers discovered that Blissit was attempting to cut off the catalytic converter, according to the news release, from the parked Toyota sedan.
Police said the catalytic converter is a valuable commodity to thieves who are able to resell the device to metal scrap yards, where it is stripped of several precious metals, including platinum, that are easily recycled. Police said they recovered various saw blades from both Blissit and the van, along with two catalytic converters. Police said they were investigating whether the group is linked to any similar burglaries.
All four were scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 10, the release stated.
Copyright 2008 by NBC5.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.