Prosecutors say four masked people broke into Goldenrod City Collectibles at 120 S. Lake Ave. shortly after 2 a.m. on Aug. 10, smashed display cases and took merchandise and cash. Complaints put the loss at about $310,454, with roughly $5,965 in damage.
Investigators say they used surveillance video, vehicle and rental records, GPS and phone information and fingerprints to identify suspects. A white Chrysler Pacifica and a BMW were among the vehicles examined.
Each of the five men is charged as a party to a crime with two counts of felony burglary, felony theft over $100,000, possession of burglarious tools, felony criminal damage and misdemeanor criminal damage. One defendant also faces repeat-offender enhancers.
A 45-year-old Chicago defendant remained in custody on $50,000 cash bail, with a preliminary hearing set for Oct. 21. Warrants were issued for the other four in September, and the cases remain pending.
Police say a separate fraud scheme on Aug. 18 and Aug. 20 involved different people using false identities and payment cards at the same shop. Allen K. Jones, 31, of Chicago, faces a felony card-fraud count and posted $5,000 cash bail, while a second man faces a misdemeanor count and two other referrals are under review.
Twin Lakes Police Chief Katie Hall said both investigations remain active and involved work with Illinois agencies. Anyone with information on the burglary can call Twin Lakes police at 262-877-9056.
