Police: Forest Preserve burglar caught at Tinley Park restaurant

A Chicago man was tracked down by Will County Forest Preserve police officers to a restaurant in Tinley Park after he allegedly burglarized a vehicle at the Hickory Creek Preserve.

About 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, a car was burglarized at the LaPorte Road Access to the Hickory Creek Preserve in Mokena, Will County Forest Preserve spokeswoman Cindy Cain said.

Forest Preserve police tracked the stolen items until they located a suspect later identified as Rodney Brown, of the 800 block of East 81st Street, Chicago, at a restaurant in Tinley Park, Cain said.

Brown was detained while a search warrant was obtained. After conducting a search, the officers found the victim’s purse, credit cards, phone and an item bought with one of the credit cards.

Brown was charged with theft and burglary from a motor vehicle. He was taken to the Will County jail, where he is being held on a $250,000 bond.

Cain said the Forest Preserve police encourages people visiting the preserves to not leave valuables in view inside their cars and to put them in their trunk before they arrive, or leave them at home.

The police also recommend people be aware of their surroundings, report suspicious activities, report incidents immediately and get as much information as possible on incidents, she said.

The police also recommend visitors call the nonemergency dispatch number 815-727-6191 if they are in need of an officer anywhere in the preserves.

Officers encourage people never to confront someone committing a crime, Cain said.