Teen Charged in Chicago Burglary Spree

A 17-year-old faces 17 burglary counts and one attempted burglary count as police link him to a crew hitting Chicago businesses.

Updated on Nov. 8, 2026 in Property Crime

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Police charged a 17-year-old with 17 counts of burglary and one count of attempted burglary after arresting him Saturday. He is accused of being part of a crew that has broken into Chicago businesses for months, and his case is being handled in juvenile court.

Why it matters

The arrest points to a burglary crew allegedly operating across several Chicago neighborhoods, from the North Side to the South Side. For local business owners, the case highlights ongoing break-ins at storefronts across the city.

The 17-year-old faces 17 burglary counts and one attempted burglary count, with one additional misdemeanor criminal damage to property charge, and his case is being handled in juvenile court. Charging records tie him to burglaries dating back to September 30, but police have not said whether he is connected to the recent break-ins on the same block of Clark Street.

The players

Charles Kelley

A 19-year-old charged in 17 burglaries, identified as part of the same burglary crew as the 17-year-old.

The details

Police said the teenager is accused of burglaries across multiple Chicago neighborhoods, including Clark Street, Ashland Avenue, Chicago Avenue, Western Avenue, and 95th Street. He is accused of targeting businesses overnight on September 30 and early on October 15, while Kelley is charged in several of the same incidents.

May 7: First alleged burglary at a business in the 2400 block of North Clark Street.
September 30: Overnight burglaries at businesses on North Clark Street, North Ashland Avenue, West Chicago Avenue and North Western Avenue.
October 15: Early-morning burglaries targeting 12 South Side businesses.
Saturday: The 17-year-old was arrested on burglary and criminal damage charges.
Thursday: The crew hit more than 10 Old Town businesses on North Wells Street.

Legal Context

This case fits a pattern in which organized burglary crews move across several Chicago neighborhoods, and it shows how juvenile court can handle a suspect alongside adult co-defendants charged in the same series of break-ins. Police charging records in these cases often link suspects across multiple incidents over months rather than treating each break-in separately.

Business owners on the North Side, West Side and South Side should review storefront security, since the crew allegedly hit businesses on multiple streets overnight and early in the morning. Residents near Clark Street and Old Town may see continued police activity as investigators examine whether additional suspects are connected to the recent break-ins.

The takeaway

Business owners who have been targeted should document losses and report each incident, since multiple break-ins may be linked in a single investigation. Charging records in cases like this can connect separate break-ins across weeks or months, so reporting every incident helps investigators build the full picture.