GURNEE, IL - July 30, 2009 -On July 29, 2009 at 9:14 AM, Gurnee police officers responded to a report of a burglary at the Dairy Queen store, located at 4611 Old Grand Avenue. The offenders had broken out a window at the rear of the business to gain entry. An undisclosed amount of cash and gift certificates were taken.

At 11:29 AM, officers responded to a report of a burglary at the TCBY store located at 5250 W. Grand Avenue. Offenders had pried open the rear door to gain entry. There was extensive damage to the rear door. An undisclosed amount of cash and gift certificates were taken in that incident.

While officers were investigating these burglaries, the Gurnee Police Department received a call from the Lake Forest Police Department. The information from Lake Forest was that they had two males in custody for attempted theft and possession of burglary tools. The two had receipts from the Gurnee Wal-Mart and TCBY. Items in their possession matched evidence at the scene of the TCBY burglary. The two suspects were transferred to the Gurnee Police Department for further investigation.

Arrested were Sterling Washington, male black, 26, of 518 129th Infantry Drive, Joliet, IL and Thomas Townsend, male white, 29, 1003 John Street Joliet, IL. The pair had come to Gurnee to meet a female acquaintance and afterward decided to go on a burglary spree. In addition to the two Gurnee burglaries and the attempted theft in Lake Forest, Highland Park Police linked the two to a burglary to a church that occurred overnight also. They allegedly stole ice cream and damaged the church.

Both suspects have been charged with attempted theft and possession of burglary tools by the Lake Forest Police, one count of burglary in Highland Park and two counts of burglary in Gurnee. Both suspects have extensive criminal histories. They were taken to a bond hearing in Waukegan late this afternoon. Both were remanded to the Lake County Jail on $150,000 bonds.

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