EAST HUMBOLDT PARK — Thieves are bashing in garage doors in East Humboldt Park to make larger enough spaces to sneak through and steal items inside, according to police.
At least nine garage burglaries were reported in March. In many of the incidents, thieves bashed in the large sliding garage doors to knock a panel out of place to get in.
Police could not provide exact times, but said the burglaries happened in the:
- 2800 block of West Augusta Boulevard on March 6
- 800 block of North Richmond Street on March 10
- 900 block of North Richmond Street on March 13
- 900 block of North Francisco Avenue on March 16
- 900 block of North Francisco Avenue on March 17
- 2700 block of West Cortez Street on March 17
- 2600 block of West Thomas Street on March 19
- 1000 block of North Richmond Street on March 20
- 2500 block of West Augusta Boulevard on March 27
Police have made one arrest in connection to at least two of the burglaries.
Officers arrested Angie Ortega in the 2400 block of West Cortez Street at 5:15 p.m. Wednesday after finding her driving a car matching a description tied to several burglaries in the area.
Police believe she is responsible for a burglary in the 2800 block of West Augusta Boulevard on March 6 and another in the 2400 block of West Rice Avenue on March 24.
Ortega, 35, of the 3300 block of West Division Street, was charged with two felony counts of burglary. She was scheduled to appear in court on April 6.