Crime & Safety

Police Nab 'Apologetic Burglar'

Skokie police arrest break-in suspect several days later.

It didn't take very long for Skokie police to bust the "apologetic burglar."

The suspect made headlines for breaking into a woman's home in Skokie on Aug. 27 and repeatedly apologizing to her as he pilfered items.

Skokie police caught their man with what deputy chief Anthony Scarpelli called "good-old-fashioned police work."

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The offender was identified as Jake C. Smith, 41, of the 5500 block of South Princeton Street in Chicago, and was arrested on Sept. 8, according to police. The mannered burglary suspect was charged with one count of home invasion, a Class X felony.

According to police, Smith broke into the home on the 8000 block of Karlov Street and when the homeowner confronted him, he apologized several times for robbing her.

Find out what's happening in Skokiewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"I don't want do to this,"  Smith said, according to the police report. "But I haven't had a job for so long, and I have three children to support."

The report continued: "The intruder then asked the victim for jewelry and money and when he discovered he was taking jewelry that belonged to the victim's mother, he said, 'Why did you have to tell me this was your mother's jewelry?' "

Yet he didn't stop there. Smith was kind enough not to go into any of the children's rooms. 

"I won't touch anything in here since I have three children of my own, and I wouldn't want anyone to mess with them," Smith said, according to the police report.

Skokie police also charged Smith with two counts of residential burglaries for intrusions in the 3300 block of Lake Street and the 8900 block of Forestview Road.

Smith is being held at the Skokie Police Department pending his court date on Sept. 17.  He could face up to 30 years imprisonment and fines.


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