Crime & Safety
Was Citgo Robbery the 'Smash and Grab' Serial Burglar?
Four burglaries in Aurora look very similar—and happened in the same time period—as Friday's Citgo burglary in Geneva.
Was the burglar who took the cash register from the Geneva Citgo in the wee hours of Friday (March 15, 2013) the so-called "smash and grab" burglar who's been having a field day in Aurora of late?
The pattern sure looks similar.
The Daily Herald reports Tuesday that the "smash and grab" burglar has struck four more times in Aurora during the period of March 8 through March 17—three times at a gas station and once at a liquor store.
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All were in the early hours of the morning, ranging from 1:15 a.m. to 2:10 a.m. The DH says the total loss of the four Aurora burglaries, including items or cash stolen and property damage, is more than $26,500.
The burglar obviously roves—the latest in Aurora were Friday on East Galena Boulevard, Saturday on East New York Street and Sunday on North Lake Street and North Randall Road, the Daily Herald reports. And he uses a brick or other hard object to smash windows.
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The Geneva burglary adds another $200 or $300, plus the cost of repairing the window damage and the loss of a cash register the burglar made off with. Geneva police Cmdr. Julie Nash said the Citgo burglary happened between midnight and 5 a.m.
Nash said Geneva has been in contact with other law-enforcement agencies in this case, as they do with all cases, but she cautioned about leaping to too many conclusions about a possible connection between the crimes. She said she could not comment further because the burglary remains under investigation.
Still, it's hard not to note the similarities, and it never hurts for citizens to keep their eyes and ears open.
The Aurora burglar has struck eight times prior to this month. Aurora police say the man works alone and is believed to be white, between 5-foot-5 and 6 feet tall, between 170 and 200 pounds.
His vehicle of choice could be a Mitsubishi Lancer or similar vehicle, the Daily Herald says, and he's taken to wearing a ski mask, now that he's drawn attention to himself by repeated burglaries.
Got information on this crime?
Call Aurora investigators at (630) 256-5500 or the Aurora Area Crime Stoppers at (630) 892-1000. Callers can remain anonymous and may qualify for a cash reward of up to $5,000 for information that leads to an arrest.
Or call the Geneva Police Department at 630-232-4736.
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