3 suspects at large after Skokie crime spree

SKOKIE, Ill. (WLS) -- Police in Chicago, Lincolnwood, Morton Grove, Evanston and Skokie are working together to find suspects in a crime spree that started in the north suburbs, ended in the city and injured an officer.

Skokie police responded to a report of six people walking through yards and breaking into cars and garages overnight.

Three cars were stolen. Two of them were recovered. A white 2005 Nissan Pathfinder, with IL plate H595 187, that is still missing belongs to a family that lives in the 5300-block of Harvard Terrace.

The owner, Carlos Sosa, said someone snatched his family's car keys and made off with the Pathfinder.

"We were sleeping. We heard noise in the bedroom - thought it was one of the kids. She woke up screaming. One of the guys flew away from the house," Sosa said.

He called 911 around 1 a.m. Wednesday to report the burglary. When police responded, they spotted the Pathfinder and a minivan that was stolen in the 8100-block of Lockwood Avenue and gave chase.

During their pursuit, police said the minivan collided with a squad car near Oakton Street and Lockwood. The three suspects in the minivan took off running. Two were taken into custody a short time later.

"The minivan struck one of our Skokie police cars. The minivan ended up crashing into the curb and injuring one of our officers," said Officer Joe Marzigliano, Skokie Police Department.

That officer was taken to the hospital, treated and released.

Police said the third suspect stole a black VW Touareg and got away. But that offender was later caught near West 59th and South Halsted streets in Chicago's Englewood neighborhood. Illinois State Police and the Chicago Police Department assisted in that arrest.

Investigators hope to locate the three other offenders involved in the crime spree once they locate the Pathfinder.

Karla Villalta, who lives in the home on Harvard Terrace, said the family will no longer leave their car keys hanging by the front door and always check that their house is locked up before going to bed.

"They got lucky and we were just, I guess, at the time, very vulnerable for not being smart enough to actually lock stuff," Villalta said.