Man Pried Way Into Local Home, Police Say

A South Side convicted felon was accused this week of trying to break into a Lincoln Park home in an area where he was knocking on doors to see who answered, according to reports.

Matthew Lewis, 32, of the 6600 block of South Drexel Avenue near Woodlawn, was charged with residential burglary, .

Police responded around 11:30 a.m. Tuesday to the 2300 block of North Wayne, where a burglar alarm had been activated, according to a Chicago Tribune story. They later found a pry bar at the home.

The Tribune reports: 

Police officers were patrolling the area when they were notified that a man was knocking on doors and (telling) residents who answered that he was trying to locate a particular person, police said.

"The brazen manner in which this offender attempted to knock on doors and identify homes where residents were not home reminds us to remain vigilant and report any suspicious person or behavior,' said Near North Commander William Dunn."

Officers said they saw Lewis rushing out of the home he'd broken into, where he hopped a fence to elude them, the story says. He was arrested shortly afterward.

Lewis' bail was set at $150,000, according to the Cook County Sheriff's Office. He remained in custody as of 6 p.m. Wednesday and is scheduled to return to court Dec. 18 for a status hearing.

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