Three teenagers charged after Skokie crime spree

(SUN TIMES MEDIA WIRE) - Three Chicago teenagers have been charged in connection with early Wednesday’s crime spree involving three stolen vehicles and a crash that left a police officer injured in north suburban Skokie.

A 15-year-old boy; a 16-year-old boy; and a 17-year-old boy, all from Chicago, have each been charged with one felony count of residential burglary and one misdemeanor count of possession of a stolen motor vehicle, according to a statement from Skokie police. The oldest boy also faces felony charges of aggravated battery and fleeing and eluding a peace officer, as well as one additional misdemeanor count of possession of a stolen motor vehicle.

At 12:44 a.m. Wednesday, someone called 911 to report black males trying to open car doors in the 5300 block of Harvard Terrace, police said.

While officers were responding to that call, a 911 caller from the same block reported a burglary, according to police. A white 2005 Nissan Pathfinder was stolen from the home, but no one was hurt.

A police officer responding to the burglary spotted the stolen Pathfinder heading east on Oakton Street near Park Avenue, police said. The stolen SUV was being followed by a red minivan that had been reported stolen in Chicago.

The stolen SUV continued east on Oakton from Long Avenue, and the red minivan crashed into a responding squad car, police said. A Skokie police officer, a 10-year veteran of the department, suffered minor injuries in the crash, and was treated and released from Skokie Hospital. She is expected to make a full recovery.

Three boys ran from the crashed minivan, but two were taken into custody after a foot chase. The third suspect headed north on Lockwood and burglarized a home in the 8100 block of Lockwood Avenue, stealing a Volkswagen Touareg, police said.

Police broadcast the stolen Volkswagen’s information over the Illinois State Police Emergency Radio Network and tracked the vehicle, police said.

A state police trooper found the stolen car and chased it to a gas station at 59th and Halsted in Chicago, where the driver was taken into custody, police said. The vehicle was recovered and is being processed for evidence.

Skokie police are searching for the white 2005 Nissan Pathfinder with Illinois license plate H595187.

As of Thursday afternoon, the three teenagers were taken to the Juvenile Detention Center in Chicago, where they will remain in custody until a court date is set. Because of their ages, names and mugshots are not available.

A fourth juvenile has been identified and Skokie police are working to obtain an arrest warrant. The four juveniles are the only people believed to be involved in the crime spree, despite initial reports of up to six suspects.

The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information should call police at (847) 982-5900, or the crime tip hotline at (847) 933-8477. Tips can also be texted to 847411 by texting “Skokie” and the information.