Officers chased down an armed man who fled after he allegedly burglarized a coin store in Gurnee and stole over $10,000 in proceeds early Thursday morning, police said.
The Gurnee Police Department responded around 1:15 a.m. Thursday to Harbor Coin, 5250 Grand Avenue in Gurnee, for a report of a burglary.
Police officers responded immediately after receiving an alarm notification from the business, according to Gurnee Police Department Public Information Officer Shawn Gaylor.
Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Mary Vukovich said the owner of the business saw someone through video inside the store smashing display cases with a hammer.
Officers arrived and located a male suspect at the scene. He attempted to flee on foot and a brief pursuit ensued, Gaylor said.
Officers soon caught up to the suspect, identified as Enosh Mekson, 31, of Gurnee, and took him into custody without further incident.
A search of Mekson’s backpack revealed proceeds stolen from the business, Gaylor said.
Vukovich said $10,835 in silver and gold coins were found in the bag. An 8-9 inch knife was also found on Mekson’s belt.
He admitted to committing the burglary and stealing the coins, Vukovich said.
Mekson was charged with burglary, theft over $10,000, criminal damage to property and two counts of resisting a peace officer.
Mekson was transported to the Lake County Courthouse in Waukegan on Thursday morning.
He was released from custody after a First Appearance Court hearing due to the charges being non-detainable under the Illinois SAFE-T Act.
Gaylor said investigators do not believe Mekson is connected to the series of burglaries that occurred on Wednesday morning throughout Gurnee.
During that incident, several suspects committed 15 commercial burglaries throughout Gurnee.
The Pembrook Corners shopping center, which is where Mekson allegedly committed the burglary at Harbor Coin, was also targeted by the burglary crew during the Wednesday morning burglary spree.
Mekson is scheduled to appear in court again on September 4 for a status of attorney hearing.