Police: Cat Burglar Entered Orland Park and Burr Ridge Homes Through Unlocked Doors

An Oak Lawn man was accused of committing residential burglaries in Orland Park and Burr Ridge between August and October, where he would enter unlocked residences and leave with tens of thousands of dollars and valuable items, according to police.

Kenneth N. Jackson, 53, whose last known address is in the 9800 block of South Keeler Avenue, was charged with two Class 1 felony counts of residential burglary, according to a release from the Orland Park Police Department. One burglary happened in the first block of Longwood Drive in Burr Ridge during the overnight hours between Oct. 1 and Oct. 2, and another took place in Orland Park last August. 

On Aug. 22, Orland Park police were called to the 10500 block of Timberline Court about a residential burglary around 2 a.m. A man entered a house through an unlocked patio door while the residents slept, police said. The man left the house when hearing the residents had awoken, without taking any property.

About an hour later, a burglary happened at a house in the 14800 block of 108th Avenue. The offender was wearing camouflage over his face and was caught on video surveillance, according to police. He also entered the home through an unlocked patio door while the residents slept, and stole about $30,000 worth of cash and jewelry, police said.

On Sept. 1, a man wearing camouflaged clothes was seen around the 10900 block of Crystal Meadows Court and the 10900 block of Green Manor Court in Orland Park. Officers chased the man on foot, but he escaped, according to the release.  

On Oct. 5, he was charged with a different Burr Ridge burglary that took place on May 22 in the 0-10 block of Shiloh Court. A money clip and watch went missing from that home. The items turned up at Jackson's home during a warranted police search prior to his arrest, which took place near the intersection of 57th and Elm streets in Hinsdale.

This time, police said Jackson unlawfully entered the Longwood Drive home between 11 p.m. and 10:30 a.m., a time period during which the residents were home, Burr Ridge Sergeant Marc Loftus said, and stole pieces of jewelry and silverware.

Loftus said none of the items that were taken from the Longwood home were recovered when they searched Jackson's home in October.

"This arrest of Jackson is the result of a long investigation where Burr Ridge and Orland Park detectives worked together to link Jackson to the Burr Ridge burglary, and a similar burglary that occurred in Orland Park in August," the Burr Ridge Police Department release reads. 

Jackson was apprehended while walking near the 9800 block of Karlov Street in Oak Lawn. He was processed at the Orland Park Police Department Wednesday and taken to Cook County Jail in Bridgeview to await a hearing on his bond, which was set at $200,000. 

A Class 1 felony is punishable by a sentence of between four to 15 years in prison and up to $25,000 in fines.

When he was arrested in October, Jackson was in possession of silver flatware and jewelry Loftus said is different than those items taken from the Longwood home. Burr Ridge and Hinsdale police say those items might have been stolen from a home in the 57th and Elm area just before his arrest, and the departments are still hoping to find the items' owners and possibly press even more charges against Jackson.

Orland Park police believe Jackson committed two other residential burglaries in the village, as well as several other attempts, often entering or trying to enter through rear doors at early morning hours, while residents slept.

Jackson is expected back in court on Feb. 11.

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