Three jailed in Dixon break-ins: Suspects also might be tied to similar crimes in Polo
DIXON – Three young Polo men are alleged to have gone on a one-night crime spree in northeast Dixon Saturday night, breaking into five to 10 homes and about 10 vehicles, lifting anything that was handy.
There also is a “definite possibility” the three were involved in a similar rash of break-ins in Polo, Dixon Sgt. Troy Morse said.
Polo Police Sgt. Shawn Knight said he couldn’t confirm that the three are “persons of interest” in the rash of burglaries, but did say that the department is looking into any possible connections.
It seems less likely that they might be connected to a string of break-ins in Sterling and Rock Falls – none of them match the description of the suspect in Rock Falls, and there is no evidence at this time tying them to those crimes, Morse said.
Arrested and in Lee County Jail on $100,000 bond Sunday night were:
■ Ryan C. Miller, 20, who, Morse said, has no permanent address.
■ Dylan E. Green, 17, 801 S. Congress Ave.; he and Miller were charged with residential burglary, two counts of burglary, criminal damage to property, and two counts of criminal trespass to motor vehicle.
■ Brian Arriola, 19, who, Morse said, recently moved to 623 N. Dixon Ave. in Dixon from Polo. He is charged with residential burglary and criminal damage to property.
All three have a 1 p.m. court appearance today.
According to police, the trio went walking around the area looking for unlocked cars and homes, grabbing whatever they could, then running off. They did not have a car or weapons, Morse said.
It appears all of the cars burglarized were unlocked. Homes were entered through unlocked doors, through doors that were jimmied, and once through an open window, Morse said.
One man kicked in the door at a home in the 700 block of North Dement Avenue, even though the house obviously was occupied, Morse said. The homeowner called 911 and described a man in a dark hoodie.
As police, the K-9 unit and sheriff’s officers combed the area, they learned of the other break-ins, and that neighbors saw at least two suspicious men running through yards in Dixon’s northeast side.
Officers stopped a man walking in the neighborhood about 11:30 p.m.; he turned out to be a suspect. Questioning him and folks in the neighborhood during their search led police to the two other suspects, and to some of the stolen property, Morse said.
All three were in custody by midnight, Morse said.
He declined to provide details of what was stolen, but said that anyone who lost valuables from a car or home – wallets, purses, DVD players, CDs and the like – should call Dixon police at 815-288-4411.
