Two suspects have been arrested after prosecutors say they committed a residential burglary at a house in Grayslake where they stole over $1,000 in electronics.
Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Colleen McConnell said two people went to the Grayslake Police Department on March 28 to report a burglary at their residence that occurred while no one was home.
There was no sign of forced entry to the house but there were signs of forced entry to a locked bedroom of the home.
Officers observed the door to appear to have been kicked in.
The resident had locked his room prior to leaving and his door required a key to get inside, McConnell said.
A gaming laptop and a PlayStation 5 were both stolen, with an approximate total value of $1,100.
The female victim suspected her son, Robert J. Kozlov, 36, of Lake Villa, committed the burglary because he had been at the residence earlier in the day looking for money.
The mother initially gave Kozlov some money and refused to give him more but he continued to pester her for more money, McConnell said.
Kozlov previously lived at the house but does not reside there anymore and had not lived there for a while prior to the burglary.
Officers canvassed the area for neighbors who might have surveillance footage and were able to obtain video from multiple cameras, McConnell said.
The footage showed a black Toyota Corolla arriving in front of the home at 6:22 p.m.
The footage showed the two males exiting the vehicle and going towards the residence.
Both subjects were seen running from the back yard while holding items approximately eight minutes later and then entering the vehicle and fleeing the area, McConnell said.
Officers recognized Michael Y. Drees, 20, of Grayslake, as one of the suspects.
Investigators interviewed Drees on April 13 after the Lake County Sheriff’s Office located him.
McConnell said Drees immediately admitted to committing the residential burglary and stealing the laptop and PlayStation 5 with Kozlov.
Drees also said that Kozlov drove to the residence in Kozlov’s car, which was located by police.
Drees told investigators the two were able to enter the house because Kozlov unlocked a side door before he left the home earlier that day, McConnell said.
McConnell said they entered through the unlocked side door as planned and made their way to the locked bedroom where Kozlov kicked open the door.
The two then stole the PlayStation 5 and the laptop and left, McConnell said. Drees said they pawned the items at a pawnshop for money to buy drugs.
Officers also arrested Kozlov at the time they located Drees but they did not interview him as he appeared “out of it,” McConnell said.
Kozlov and Drees were both charged with one count of residential burglary, a Class 1 felony, and theft over $500, a Class 3 felony.
Kozlov was on probation at the time for reckless driving in Lake County and has a prior history of criminal offenses.
Drees was on pre-trial release in a December misdemeanor Lake County case for retail theft.
Drees was previously convicted of a felony in a 2022 Lake County case where he threatened to shoot up Grayslake Central High School and dismember fellow students.
He received probation in the case initially but the probation was revoked and he was re-sentenced to three years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office filed petitions to detain Drees and Kozlov pending trial, which were granted by Lake County Judge Michael Nerheim following separate detention hearings.
The two are set to appear in court again on May 7 for a preliminary hearing.