A man who was charged a week earlier with car burglary in Westmont, entered a Hinsdale home Saturday night while the residents were asleep, found the keys to the Jeep Wrangler in their garage and stole the vehicle.
Dustin R. Petty, who turned 49 Tuesday, appeared in court Monday, where Judge Brian Telander set his bail at $100,000 on charges of possession of a stolen motor vehicle, burglary and identity theft, according to court records.
Petty, whose last known address was in the 13500 block of South Brandon Street in Chicago, was arrested Saturday after Hinsdale police responded to a call about 10 p.m. for a subject entering a home on the 200 block of Washington Street. A short time earlier, a resident in the 100 block of Lincoln Street reported someone ringing their doorbell and then covering up the doorbell camera. The resident also reported seeing someone peering through a window, prosecutors said.
Hinsdale authorities said between 10 p.m. and 11 p.m. March 21 Petty was at three homes on the 100 block of North Lincoln and homes on the 200 block of North Lincoln, the 100 block of Washington and the house on the 200 block of Washington which he entered through an unlocked door, while the residents were sleeping upstairs, Hinsdale Deputy Police Chief Thomas Lillie said.
Authorities credit a resident who made a timely call to the police and provided video images from a doorbell security camera for the quick identification and arrest of Petty.
Petty was recognized from an arrest Westmont police made March 15, Hinsdale Police Chief Brian King said in a statement.
Westmont police found Petty a short time later at a Speedway station on Cass Avenue in Westmont. Hinsdale and Westmont officers also recovered the Jeep Wrangler in the gas station parking lot and cellphones, a credit card and an ID reported taken from the same home.
Items reported stolen in other burglaries, such as purses and a computer laptop, were recovered, Hinsdale police said.
Petty, who was charged March 15 with entering two vehicles in Westmont, criminal trespass and possession of a crack pipe, according to court records, had been released on a $25,000 personal recognizance bond. Petty is scheduled for arraignment May 15.
Clifford Ward is a freelance reporter.
