ROCKFORD — Local and federal law enforcement officers collected evidence on Saturday from a home believed to be connected to a rash of burglaries at gun shops in Belvidere and Loves Park.
An arrest warrant has been authorized in the case for an underage male suspect wanted for burglary, possession of burglary tools and aggravated fleeing to elude, police said. His name is not being released due to his age.
Rockford police SWAT team members, Belvidere and Loves Park police officers and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agents executed a search warrant at 2:45 p.m. in the 3300 block of Sablewood Drive in Rockford after receiving several leads in recent days. Police didn't say what evidence was seized.
BigLinny Firearms in Belvidere, 485 Southtowne Drive, has been robbed three times this month.
One person was arrested at the scene on Wednesday during the third robbery. Another suspect escaped after leading police on a high-speed chase to Rockford. The suspect vehicle, a red Monte Carlo with a broken rear passenger window, matched the description from a previous robbery.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Belvidere Police at 815-547-6433 or Boone County CrimeStoppers at 815-544-7867.
On Dec. 26, Loves Park police responded to an attempted break-in at Gilmore's Fine Firearms. On Dec. 27 an unknown number of guns were stolen from KAP Guns in Loves Park. Burglars also broke into KAP Guns on Dec. 15 and stole multiple firearms. Police believe the three burglaries are related.
Adam Poulisse: 815-987-1344; apoulisse@rrstar.com; @adampoulisse