Police responded to a reported stolen car from a garage in the 600-block of Fay Avenue at about 5 a.m. Officers arrived on the scene and observed two vehicles. When they attempted to stop the vehicles, a chase began.
[Ads /]
"We saw two vehicles coming from the side street at a very high rate of speed. Officers attempted to stop them. An officer coming from the opposite direction was hit by one of the offending vehicles," said Elmhurst Police Commander Steve Wright.
The chase ended when one of the suspects crashed into a squad car near West Avenue and Gladys and narrowly missed a home. Another suspect drove across several lawns to get away then tried to take off on foot.
After establishing a perimeter, three of the suspects were located in the 400-block of North Avenue, at North and Ridgeland avenues and the 400-block of West Avenue. A loaded handgun was recovered from the scene.
A fourth suspect remains on the loose and police believe that suspect has left the area. Officers from surrounding police departments and K-9 units were brought in for the search.
Police said that the suspects may have been entering unlocked cars and garages in order to steal items of value and cars with keys in the ignition.
[Ads /]
Police said they may be responsible for burglaries over the weekend. On Saturday, Elmhurst police released a warning about residential burglaries in the 400-block of Prairie Avenue and the 400-block of Poplar Avenue and an attempted burglary in the 200-block of South Street that occurred between 2 and 4 a.m. The suspects in those burglaries entered the homes through unsecured doors and removed wallets and purses while the victims slept.
"We've subsequently now received several more calls for burglarized motor vehicles in this area, so it's pretty obvious they were out burglarizing cars," said Elmhurst Police Commander Steve Wright.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Elmhurst police at 630-530-3050.