Two Chicago residents were arrested early Thursday morning after attempting to burglarize a Cicero business and allegedly restraining the occupant of an adjacent apartment. Jeremiah J. Mays, 47, and Maranda L. Butler, 20, have been charged with burglary and unlawful restraint following the incident, which occurred in the 5600 block of West Roosevelt Road around 1:30 a.m.
Cicero police were conducting a targeted special operation in response to a series of overnight commercial burglaries in the area when they received an alarm call from the business. Upon arrival, officers found the glass entry door shattered and discovered Mays and Butler inside the closed establishment. After securing the business, officers expanded their search to a second-floor apartment above the business.
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There, they found the apartment resident locked in a bedroom. The victim had reportedly been ordered by Mays and Butler to remain inside and was locked in the room during the burglary. The suspects were found hiding in the apartment, and investigators recovered several pieces of evidence at the scene linking them to the crime.
During questioning, Mays and Butler admitted to the burglary, and further investigation revealed that Mays was also a suspect in a similar commercial burglary in Blue Island, Illinois, on November 11. As a result, Mays has now been charged with the Blue Island burglary and is under investigation for involvement in other recent burglaries across suburban areas, including Cicero.
The special patrol operation that led to the arrests was funded in part by the Illinois Attorney General’s Organized Retail Crime Grant, which President Larry Dominick credited for enabling the initiative. Dominick also expressed gratitude to Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul for supporting the grant, which aided local law enforcement efforts to tackle rising retail crime.
Mays and Butler are currently being held at the Cook County Jail while authorities continue to investigate their involvement in other burglaries. The public is reminded that the charges filed against the suspects are allegations, and the defendants are entitled to a fair trial where the burden of proof lies with the prosecution.