Staff Writer

DeKALB | A DeKalb man was charged Jan. 17 with a burglary that police believe may be connected to a series of burglaries throughout the last four months in DeKalb, Sycamore and Rochelle.

Sycamore Police arrested Andrew Solomon, 42, of DeKalb when he was seen leaving the area near Sam’s Pizza, 526 E. State St., where police were investigating an attempted burglary.

During the contact with Solomon, police learned information linking Solomon to a burglary Jan. 15 at the Beach Club Tan and Water Massage, 2180 Oakland Drive. Solomon has not been charged in connection with the Sam’s Pizza attempted burglary.

Sgt. Steve Cook of the Sycamore Police Department said Solomon has not been charged with any other burglaries in Sycamore yet and is awaiting the results of evidence sent to the crime lab in the investigation of the other burglaries.

While working with the DeKalb and Sycamore Police Departments, the Rochelle Police Department learned it had physical evidence linking burglaries in Rochelle tao ones in Sycamore and DeKalb, said Rochelle Police Chief Rob Buck.

From the Sycamore arrest and additional evidence, the Rochelle Police charged Solomon with one count of burglary for a burglary Jan. 4 at Alfano’s Restaurant, 1071 N. Caron Road, in Rochelle.

Buck said the Rochelle Police are waiting for evidence from the crime lab for the investigation into the other burglaries, but does believe the burglaries are connected.

“We believe all of them are related and committed by the same person,” Buck said. “We are still working with evidence with the others before charges are filed on those.”

Several burglaries reported in DeKalb throughout the last four months were done in the same manner, but no charges have been filed against Solomon in DeKalb, said Lt. Gary Spangler of the DeKalb Police Department.

“The MO (mode of operation) is quite similar in a lot of them and that’s one reason we think they are related,” Spangler said.

Spangler said evidence from the burglaries has been sent to the crime lab, but no one has been charged. Since Solomon’s arrest on Jan. 17, no burglaries have been reported in DeKalb, Spangler said, and DeKalb also had two burglaries the same day he was arrested.

All the burglaries were reportedly done in the same way, where the suspect would use a brick or heavy object to smash the front door or window to enter, Spangler said.

Burglary is a class two felony, punishable by three to seven years in prison.