Wilmette Burglary Suspects Headed to Court

A Jan. 30 court date has been set for two men suspected in a dramatic burglary of a Wilmette home. The two will appear at the .

, 46, of Evanston, and Christopher D. Boyd, 39, of Skokie were arrested by in connection with a Dec. 16 residential burglary in the 2200 block of Kenilworth Avenue. An 18-year-old resident called police from his bedroom closet while the burglary was in progress. Police arrested McGee at the scene and said they recovered $7,000 worth of jewelry including a pair of gold chains, a string of pearls and gold and silver pendants.

Boyd allegedly fled the scene in his car and then on foot after he was involved in an accident at the intersection of 17the Street and Lake Avenue.  While police searched for him, he allegedly hid in an unlocked garage, which he then locked after opening it.

“The car was his, and there was some other information that led to him as a second offender,” said Commander Patrick Collins. “Through Skokie and Evanston, we knew where he lived or might be hanging out and detectives were able to go down there.”

Wilmette police put Boyd’s mother’s apartment in the 9100 block of Keating Avenue in Skokie under surveillance. They arrested him there Dec. 22 and one of the officers who had been at the Dec. 16 crime scene identified him as the second suspect.

“He made admissions that he was at the scene of the burglary, he was the one that drove the car away, crashed the vehicle and eluded police,” Collins said.

The village was hit by a rash of in December, and Collins said the police department is still waiting on results from the crime lab to see if they can connect McGee and Boyd to any other scenes.

Burglaries have slowed, but not stopped since the suspects were arrested. Wilmette Police urge residents to protect themselves by leaving lights on after dusk to give the home the appearance of being occupied, having a trusted neighbor take in mail and newspapers and setting alarms before leaving home.