Police from Arlington Heights responded overnight — possibly around 3:00 a.m. Sunday, January 30, 2022 — to a report of a burglary and a confrontation of burglary suspects with private commercial security personnel at Buick GMC – Arlington Heights, 777 West Dundee Road in Arlington Heights.
According to a person familiar with the crime, private security personnel were on a routine patrol of a lot near Buick GMC – Arlington Heights (formerly Sullivan Buick GMC – Arlington Heights) when they observed suspicious activity at the Buick GMC – Arlington Heights at Dundee Road and Ridge Avenue.
According to unconfirmed reports from police officials, the private security personnel interrupted a commercial burglary with auto thefts in progress. At least one weapon was displayed by an offender to threaten the security personnel. When the weapon was displayed, the security personnel left the area and called police. Initially, it is unknown whether the Arlington Heights Police Department was simultaneously responding to an activated burglary alarm that may or may not have been activated.
Reportedly, the offenders took a number of car keys for vehicles that were for sale at the auto dealership. There is also a report that the offenders returned to get more vehicles. The details of a second confrontation occurred were not initially available, but the offenders fled again.
At least one, and possibly three or four vehicles were stolen. Initially it is unknown whether the vehicles were stolen at the first criminal trespass or during the second.
The Arlington Heights Police Department is investigating the crime, and remained on the scene for at least part of the day Sunday to protect the business from additional auto thefts. The owners were meeting to decide and arrange for additional security protection at the dealership.
The number of offenders was initially unknown by CARDINAL NEWS. The offenders were described possibly male/black subjects wearing dark masks.
CARDINAL NEWS learned of this incident because a passerby noticed police activity at the auto dealership around 3:00 a.m. and provided a tip to CARDINAL NEWS. Citizens are reminded that tips can be submitted at …
ⓘ CARDINAL NEWS wishes to thank the citizen who provided the tip, because our safety and awareness and knowledge of the community’s personal safety status is at stake. Without citizens providing tips to news agencies, there is the possibility that some significant incidents go unrevealed by local governments to the public. All incidents, including some significant incidents involving shots fired (as a single example) are not always revealed by local police departments to the general public. The lack of information is not necessarily a fault of police departments, but could be a fault of local government leaders. CARDINAL NEWS fully supports the police department. Citizens that are provided with quality, timely information are the best help to police officers and the community.
The information in this article is an early report published before any summary information was confirmed or released by police authorities.