Car Burglar Steals Handgun, But Falls When Joliet Police Spot Him: Officers

JOLIET — The Joliet police force announced that 35-year-old citizen James Rudnick is now in the Will County Jail where he's charged with burglary to a vehicle, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, unlawful use of a weapon by a felon. He also was charged with burglary to another vehicle, possessing a stolen gun and possessing burglary tools.

Joliet police say Rudnick was out in the community coming his crimes before sunrise.

On Friday, at 5:40 a.m., the officers responded to the 400 block of South Eastern Avenue for a burglary to a motor vehicle. Someone had unlawfully entered the resident’s unlocked Toyota Tundra and took two iPhones and Air pods from the vehicle.

The burglary was recorded on a nearby surveillance camera.

A short time later, the officers located a man matching the description of the burglary suspect carrying a backpack seen in the footage at a gas station located at 379 South Chicago Street. The suspect, later identified as Rudnick, tried to run from the officers but tripped and was placed into custody without incident.

Joliet police spokesman Dwayne English said the officers recovered the two iPhones and air pods taken from the vehicle on Eastern Avenue as well as a loaded handgun from the backpack that Rudnick was carrying.

Rudnick also appeared to be in possession of screwdrivers. Later that same morning, the officers responded to a report of another burglary to a motor vehicle in the 100 block of Fifth Avenue that was also captured on video which showed Rudnick entering an unlocked Honda and removing a handgun and other items from the vehicle, English revealed.

Rudnick was charged with this additional burglary after it was confirmed the handgun taken in this burglary was the same that Rudnick possessed.