Burglar Hits Wendy's, Dunkin', Dollar Tree In Early Morning Crime Spree: Joliet Police

JOLIET, IL — Joliet police say a burglar apparently threw a brick through a glass door at the Dollar Tree store on Colorado Avenue before he was spotted inside a Wendy's store on Plainfield Road, then unsuccessfully tried to gain entry to a nearby Dunkin' location.

Just before 5 a.m. Thursday, police said officers responded to the Dollar Tree for a report of a burglary, finding a shattered glass door and a brick on the sidewalk near the entrance. No one was found during a search of the building, but a representative of the store arrived and believed several items of merchandise were stolen during the burglary.

Next, at 6:52 a.m., officers responded to another burglary report, this time at Wendy's at 2900 Plainfield Road. Employees called 911 after arriving to open the restaurant and seeing a person inside the restaurant, who then ran to the back of the building and exited through the back door, police said.

Surveillance footage showed a man, who police say was later identified as 18-year-old Jalen Davis, enter through the drive-thru window and remain inside the fast-food restaurant, damaging cash registers, a safe and office equipment.

As police were investigating the burglaries at Dollar Tree and Wendy's, they learned that a "suspicious male" in a mask was seen nearby at Dunkn', 3011 Plainfield Road.

Police said an officer found the man at the doors of the business, and, after he provided a false name, he was identified as Davis. He was also identified as the suspect in the burglary at Dollar Tree.

During a search, police say Davis was found to have tools they believe he used in the burglaries.

Employees at Dunkin' also reported fresh damage to the drive-thru window that police say were consistent with attempted forced entry.

Officers interviewed Davis, who police say indicated that he was involved in the Dollar Tree burglary and acknowledged entering the Wendy's and attempting to enter Dunkin'.

Bags of merchandise taken from Dollar Tree were found behind the business, police said.

Davis was processed at the Joliet Police Department and taken to the Will County jail. He is charged with three counts of burglary, possession of burglary tools, criminal damage to property and obstructing identification.

Additional charges against Davis may be forthcoming, pending further investigation by the Will County State's Attorney, police said.

Jail records indicate that Davis, of the 900 block of Campbell Street, appeared in court and was released from jail Friday afternoon.