Gunfire Exchanged and Robberies in Peotone Township

People in the country are experiencing more and more thefts and crime lately. Will County Sheriff’s had to issue two press releases in one week with regards to criminal activity in the country, just outside of Peotone.

The first was on  August 7, at 3:50 a.m., when Will County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of an unknown dark colored Silverado parked in a driveway in the 28000 block of S. 80th Avenue in Peotone Township. The caller/homeowners advised they observed two male subjects near the side of their residence and exchanged one round of gunfire with one of the subjects. The two subjects then drove off in the Silverado. No one was injured.

The homeowner also advised an unknown, unoccupied, Volkswagen SUV was parked near his barn. Deputies observed a window broken out of the vehicle with gasoline poured throughout the inside. The homeowner believes it was because of the gunfire exchange that stopped the suspects from lighting the vehicle on fire. It was later determined the Volkswagen SUV had been stolen out of Skokie.

The Will County Sheriff’s Office put out a two-mile radius reverse 911 call to area residents warning them to shelter in place while deputies combed the area for the suspects. Sheriff’s deputies and K-9 Units located the Silverado in the 8000 block of W. Offner Road. Once it was determined the subjects had left the area, the 911 alert was cancelled. Sheriff’s deputies remained in the area investigating the incident.

Just days later on August 11th at 6:13am, Sheriff’s deputies were called to a residence in the 29000 block of S. Center Road, just a ways down the road from the criminal activity on August 7th in Peotone Township, for a barn that was burglarized. While deputies were heading to the residence, they were advised that a witness was following two suspicious subjects who had just left the property, one driving a pickup truck and one driving a Polaris Ranger ATV. As the subjects continued to drive, the witness continued following them until deputies crossed their path at Harlem and Bruns, in Green Garden Township. The subjects were stopped and taken into custody.
The subjects were identified as Anthony Peters, age 37, of 1129 Schilling in Chicago Heights and Jeremy Peters, age 36, of 8148 Keating Avenue in Skokie.

Upon the search of the offenders, Jeremy Peters was found to have a loaded handgun with the identifiers filed off and a +3″ knife. Both subjects were transported to the Sheriff’s Criminal Investigations Unit where Anthony Peters was charged with Burglary and Jeremy Peters was charged with Armed Habitual Felon, Defacing a firearm, Aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, Aggravated unlawful use of a weapon by a felon, Possession of a stolen motor vehicle, Possession of ammunition by a felon, Burglary, Armed Violence, Theft over $500, Criminal damage to property, Expired driver’s license, and Aggravated unlawful use of a weapon no FOID card.

The homeowners stated that the suspects broke into the barn and stole a ring camera, gun safe with various handguns and shotguns inside, a Gator utility vehicle, a flatbed trailer, the Polaris Ranger ATV, and several tools. Preliminary evidence shows that the offenders came to the property and initially stole the trailer, Gator, and gun safe. Within an hour or two, they returned to the property and stole the Polaris and tools. The offender/s also slashed the rear tire of the homeowner’s truck that was parked near the barn.

At this time the Polaris and tools have been returned to the owner. Sheriff’s deputies and detectives continue to investigate this robbery and are searching for the other stolen items. Additional charges may be forthcoming.

It should be noted that an enclosed trailer was reported stolen from Jason Drive in Monee Township around the same time deputies were called to the Center Road burglary. Deputies are currently investigating that burglary as well. Later in the day on August 11th, Sheriff’s deputies received a call from the Steger Police Department who advised that a church on Sauk Trail had found an unknown enclosed trailer in a ditch near the parking lot. Deputies identified the trailer as the stolen one from the residence in Monee.

It is believed both incidents in Peotone Township are related.

The Sheriff’s Office was very gracious and thanked the good Samaritan witness who “saw something and said something”. This witness was vital to the Sheriff’s ongoing investigations to who may be responsible for the burglaries that have been occurring in eastern Will County townships.

During these investigations along with several prior motor vehicle thefts reported within the past few weeks, specifically in Wilton, Peotone, Green Garden, and Monee Townships, it was brought to Will County Sheriff’s attention that many witnesses have not come forward with information after they have observed suspicious people and vehicles in their neighborhoods.

Will County Sheriff’s Office urged the public to report anything suspicious. “If you see something, say something” was the motto in all caps on their social media page.

The public is encouraged to assist the deputies by calling 911, submitting a crime tip at www.willcosheriff.org, or contacting Crime Stoppers at 800-323-6734 or crimestoppersofwillcounty.org. (You may remain anonymous when submitting.)

Sheriff’s deputies believe the vehicle thieves are familiar with the area and are targeting the eastern area of Will County. Most of the vehicles stolen have occurred in the overnight hours, however a vehicle was stolen from an open garage in Peotone in the middle of the day while the residents were home. This type of crime is considered a “crime of opportunity.” The public is encouraged to please take the extra few seconds to lock your vehicles at all times; leaving your vehicle unlocked is an open invitation for criminals.