Police announced three suspects are in custody and three remain wanted for stealing over $1 million in proceeds while committing over 115 commercial burglaries in Lake County and surrounding areas.
The Chicago suburbs experienced a rash of more than 115 commercial burglaries that occurred during the overnight hours beginning in February 2024 and continuing through May 2025.
The Arlington Heights Police Department said the offenders in the cases arrived at their targeted locations in stolen vehicles or rental cars displaying stolen registration.
They concealed their faces with hoods and masks as they forced entry into the retail establishments where they stole large volumes of retail goods.
The offenders were observed on video surveillance to be carrying guns during many of the burglaries, police officials said.
Police in several of the incidents attempted to stop the suspect vehicles.
The efforts were unsuccessful as the offenders fled at speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour, posing a “significant risk” to public safety that led to the pursuits being discontinued, police officials said.
A major investigation, dubbed “Operation Last Call,” was launched with the Arlington Heights and Vernon Hills police departments spearheading the effort.
Detectives from the Addison, Buffalo Grove, Wheeling, Oak Lawn, Worth, Barrington, South Barrington, Deerfield, Wauconda, Gilberts, West Dundee, Gurnee, Lake Forest, Carpentersville, Des Plaines, Westchester, Wilmette, Northbrook, North Chicago, Glencoe, Skokie, Morton Grove and Chicago police department also assisted, along with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
This investigation identified six main offenders — Demario M. Brown, 26, of Chicago; Dequane J. Hall, 29, of Chicago; Darryl D. Williamson, 26, of Chicago; Jimmy C. Hall, 30, of Chicago; Antonio Lewis, 26, of Chicago; and Marquise D. Williamson, 24, of Wheeling.
The six were associated with a gang based on the west side of Chicago.
Police officials said the investigation revealed the crew’s initial focus in 2023 was on the theft and resale of catalytic converters before it shifted towards forced entry commercial burglaries.
The group acquired stolen vehicles to use during the commission of the crimes through the use of digital programming devices that exploited the vulnerabilities of specific vehicles.
Stores with ATMs were initially researched and scouted as initial targets before the crew shifted to the theft of high-end liquors and eventually cosmetic goods, police officials said.
Retailers suffered an estimated loss of more than $1 million. The proceeds of the crimes were typically offered for sale online through social media and word of mouth in the community.
Detectives worked with the Illinois Attorney General’s Office to obtain charges for the suspects due to the multi-jurisdictional nature of the investigation.
A grand jury indictment with 98 charges was filed against the six suspects in Lake County Circuit Court.
“Without the extraordinary collaboration of the agencies involved in this investigation, this result would not have been possible,” Vernon Hills Police Chief Patrick L. Kreis said.
“We are grateful to our partners across the Chicago area who contributed to this effort,” Kreis said.
Demario M. Brown, Dequane J. Hall and Darryl D. Williamson were each charged with one count of organized retail crime, a Class 3 felony, and two counts of burglary, a Class 2 felony.
Williamson was additionally charged with a third count of burglary and one count of attempted burglary.
Jimmy C. Hall was charged with five counts of organized retail crime, 16 counts of burglary, one count of attempted burglary and one count of theft.
Antonio Lewis was charged with eight counts of organized retail crime, 31 counts of burglary and four counts of attempted burglary.
Marquise D. Williamson was charged with four counts of organized retail crime, 13 counts of burglary and one count of theft.
Court records show arrest warrants were issued for all six suspects.
Jimmy Hall, Dequane Hall and Marquise Williamson have since been arrested, while the other three suspects remain wanted and anyone who knows their whereabouts is asked to contact the Arlington Heights Police Department.
“The interagency cooperation and teamwork exhibited was instrumental to ensure this unlawful activity received the appropriate level of law enforcement attention,” Arlington Heights Police Chief Nicholas A. Pecora Jr. said.
“This investigation is a great example of a well-coordinated multijurisdictional response to a pattern crime designed to hold the criminal element responsible,” Pecora said.