Security Videos Show Same Car, Armed Group In Multiple Car Thefts

HOMER GLEN, IL — A Homer Glen teacher was one of at least three people who had their vehicles stolen throughout the south suburbs Monday afternoon. According to reports from Lemont police, three people in a Dodge Durango are suspected in prior attempted thefts.

Stephanie Pearson doesn't usually leave her garage door open, but a chance mix-up at around 3 p.m. Monday left one of her garage stall doors open while her daughter ran into the house to change before heading to the gym.

While Pearson said she'd heard of car thefts in the area, she said the time of day and regularity of the task meant she left her purse — and keys — inside of her Lexus, which she told Patch was "the first really nice car I've ever had in my life."

The family's home alarm system alerted Pearson there was movement near the front of her house at around 3:15 p.m. When she looked at her phone, she saw three people in ski masks walking into her open garage.

"I glanced at [my phone] and saw there was someone walking into my garage. I shouted at my daughter to call 9-1-1 and walked through my kitchen and to the door leading to the garage," she said. "And there I kind of hesitated because I didn't know if it was smart to open the door or not, but I finally opened it and by that time my car was gone."

Pearson said she later analyzed the video recording from the scene with her nephew who estimated the group managed to take the car and drive away within 10 seconds.

Later, deputies pointed out to Pearson that at least two of the people were holding what appeared to be handguns.

According to Pearson's neighbors, the same group stole a car down the block a few minutes prior. Security footage from Orland Park showed what Will County Sheriff's deputies believe to be the start of the spree when a group hops out of a gray Dodge Durango at around 2:50 p.m. Monday.The group attempts to open a car door but it was locked, so they move next door and drive off with a black Jeep.

Orland Park police later found the Jeep abandoned without the owner's purse.

A gray Dodge Durango is also the suspected vehicle in an attempted carjacking in Lemont that same day. Lemont Police said a man with a handgun tried to steal a vehicle from an open garage in Kettering Estates around 3 p.m. Monday. Neighbors saw the man and called police. However, the same vehicle is seen in security footage from thefts in Homer Glen about 10 minutes later.

Two other men were in the Durango, police said. All three were wearing ski masks and gloves.

Pearson and her youngest daughter were planning to drive to Virginia later that week to meet her husband and other daughters for Thanksgiving, but the woman didn't feel comfortable enough to leave. While she doesn't feel at fault for the incident, she wanted to make sure others knew how to lower their own chances of being victims to a similar crime.

"I just want people to know that they need to keep their garage door closed and their door from the garage into their house locked," she told Patch. "And right afterwards when police were asking me questions I struggled to remember what my license plate was, VIN number, what was in my purse. Whether you put a note in your phone or write it down, you should know the VIN number, license plate, credit cards, so that all of those things are handy when you need them."

Pearson said she considers the car to be a complete loss by now, even telling Patch she wouldn't want it back for fear it was used in crimes in the meantime. Instead, she wanted her story to serve as a public service to keep her neighbors safe.