Police, K-9 Nab Man Driving Wanted Car From Vehicle Thefts

ORLAND PARK, IL — Illinois State Police have located a vehicle suspected in connection to multiple car thefts that occurred last month across the south suburbs, Orland Park police told Patch.

According to state police, a man was arrested Tuesday night on Chicago's South Side after officials identified the vehicle he was driving as the same one shown in security camera footage from at least three car thefts that took place Nov. 22 - 24.

The suspected vehicle led police on a car chase through the South Side and onto Interstate 94, eventually stopping near 70th Street and Dante Avenue, police said. A police helicopter was used to track the car off the interstate. Once stopped, a man jumped out of the car and attempted to run, but an ISP K-9 officer named Kobra apprehended him.

The man and the dog were both treated for minor injuries before state police turned the man over to Chicago police.

"We are working with the information gathered from CPD and the person whom they arrested to develop evidence on who committed the crimes in Orland Park on the 22nd and 24th," said Orland Park Police Department's Kenneth Rosinski.

The vehicle, a gray Dodge Durango, was first implicated on Nov. 22 when footage showed three men inside the car steal a Jeep from an Orland Park driveway, the car was later recovered several blocks away without the owner's purse. The same type of car was later seen in home security footage from Homer Glen where a woman and her daughter saw a group of armed men enter their garage while they were inside.

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"The Illinois State Police has mobilized all tools at its disposal to fight senseless violence in the Chicago area and especially on our Interstates," said ISP Director Brendan Kelly in a statement. "Suspects should be advised that, if you run, you will be tracked, whether it is by plane, car, foot, or by our specially trained canines."