An 18-year-old former fast-food restaurant employee remained in custody at the McHenry County Jail Wednesday on charges of stealing more than $2,400 from safes at two eateries where he once worked.
Michael Alva, of 243 Uteg St., Crystal Lake, faces felony charges of burglary and criminal damage to property and two counts of theft, police said.
Alva is being held in lieu of $80,000 bond in connection with the two incidents earlier this year, authorities said.
Officers said Alva removed a 200-pound safe containing more than $2,000 from Kentucky Fried Chicken, 6280 Virginia St., after the restaurant closed Jan. 19.
Other employees alerted police to the missing safe when they arrived the next day to open the restaurant. There were no signs of forced entry, according to Crystal Lake police detectives.
The empty, damaged restaurant safe was later found dumped in Crystal Lake, said Lt. Howard Parth.
One of Alva’s former co-workers, Miguel Rivera, 17, of 3004 State St., Crystal Lake, is accused of participating with Alva in a similar theft in the early morning hours of July 31 at the Burger King, 250 Virginia St., police said.
Police said Alva and Rivera removed more than $400 from a safe at Burger King. The empty safe was not taken from the building, which showed no signs of forced entry, Parth said.
Crystal Lake police took both suspects into custody Friday.
Rivera, who is charged with felony theft, was released from the McHenry County Jail.
