Michael J. Schuerr, 42, of Round Lake (left) was arrested on January 23, 2020, after stealing from his neighbor near Round Lake and attempting to sell the stolen proceeds online. | Provided Photos

A Round Lake man who stole tools from a neighbor and was detained after being chased down by the victim has been sentenced to 18 months of periodic imprisonment.

Michael J. Schuerr, 42, of Round Lake, was charged in January 2020 with two counts of burglary, a Class 3 felony, and three counts of theft, a Class 4 felony.

A Gurnee man browsing Facebook Marketplace in January 2020 saw tools for sale that he was interested in, according to Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli.

The Gurnee man messaged the seller, identified as Schuerr.

The Gurnee man arrived in the area of Schuerr’s residence on January 22, 2020, but was unable to locate Schuerr’s home.

Covelli said that the Gurnee man explained to one of Schuerr’s neighbors that he was there to buy tools from Schuerr and asked if he knew where his house was.

[Suggested Article]  Elementary school in Lake in the Hills on lockdown for second day in a row following another threatening message

“The neighbor, having recently been burglarized and having tools stolen during the burglary, decided he would walk the Gurnee man to Schuerr’s house. When the two arrived, Schuerr opened his garage door and the neighbor saw his toolbox and tools which were stolen in the burglary,” Covelli said.

The neighbor confronted Schuerr and Schuerr immediately closed his garage door and fled from the residence, located in the 35300 block of North Nielsen Drive in unincorporated Round Lake.

The neighbor, along with another neighbor, followed Schuerr and detained him until sheriff’s deputies responded, Covelli said.

Sheriff’s detectives obtained a search warrant for Schuerr’s residence and also recovered property stolen from other area residents while conducting the warrant.

Court records show Schuerr entered into a negotiated plea deal with the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office late last month.

[Suggested Article]  Neighbors raising money for pregnant mother who was carjacked, run over and had child abducted near Libertyville

He pleaded guilty to one count of theft under $500 with prior conviction. He also pleaded guilty in a second court case to one count of attempted burglary.

Prosecutors dismissed several other court cases against the man as part of the deal.

Lake County Judge Victoria Rossetti approved the plea and sentenced Schuerr to 18 months of periodic imprisonment and 30 months of probation.

She also ordered Schuerr to abide by numerous conditions, including undergoing rehabilitation and not possessing or consuming any alcohol or drugs.