Police say they identified and charged three members of the “South America Theft Group” who allegedly burglarized two high-end houses by force in Lakewood in March.
Police officials said two residences in Lakewood were burglarized on March 6.
One of the residences was in the 7500 block of Longmoor Drive and another residence in the 9500 block of Nicklaus Lane.
Forced entry was made to the homes and items within were removed.
The Lakewood Police Department and several law enforcement agencies throughout northern Illinois and Indiana worked together to develop three suspects responsible for the break-ins.
Arrest warrants have been obtained charging Matias Fabian Gallardo, Esteban Alejandro Aguilera-Navarette and Simon Andres Tejo-Sandoval.
The trio was charged with two counts of residential burglary, two counts of criminal damage to property, two counts of criminal trespass to property and two counts of mob action.
All three subjects are reported to be a part of the South American Theft Group, police officials said.
The crew was suspected primarily of being active in Lake and Kane counties.
The same crew has been involved in burglary cases in other states south of Illinois, police said.
The group has been known to target high-end residences that back up to wooded areas or golf courses.
They use the land behind the residences as a means to monitor residences and also to flee the scene.
None of the three suspects are in custody of the McHenry County Jail yet as of Wednesday.