Dozen businesses burglarized during early Wednesday crime spree along Randall Road in Geneva
Geneva police are investigating after 12 businesses were burglarized after having their storefront glass shattered early Wednesday along the Randall Road corridor in the city.
A Geneva police officer on patrol discovered a burglarized business at 2:22 a.m. in the 1700 block of South Randall Road, officials said in a news release. The burglars used an object, possibly a brick or a fire extinguisher, to break out the storefront glass to gain entry to the business, police said.
At the same time, Geneva police said they received a call regarding a suspicious vehicle in close proximity to the burglarized business. Batavia police officers responded to provide assistance and tried to stop the vehicle believed to be involved in the crime, according to the release.
Batavia police said a stolen Kia sedan was seen leaving the area of Mill Street and Randall Road at a high rate of speed. Batavia officers and Kane County Sheriff’s deputies pursued the vehicle but terminated the pursuit after vehicle speeds became unreasonable and the occupants of the vehicle began throwing items out of the car, according to a press release from Batavia police.
The car was last seen heading eastbound on Interstate 88, officials said.
Police then found 11 additional businesses in the surrounding area in Geneva that were also burglarized. The storefront glass was broken in all 12 incidents and the burglars grabbed as much merchandise as they could before moving to the next store, police said.
In Geneva, three businesses were burglarized on the east side of the 1700 block of South Randall Road, five on the west side of the 1700 block of South Randall Road, and four in Geneva Commons, on the 1000 block of Commons Drive, officials said.
Two businesses in the 1800 block of Mill Street near Randall Road in Batavia also had damage to their glass front doors early Wednesday morning. It is unknown at this time if any items were stolen, Batavia police said Wednesday afternoon.
The burglaries remain under investigation and businesses are compiling an itemized list of stolen merchandise, according to Geneva police.
Anyone with information about the burglaries in Geneva is asked to call Geneva police at 630-232-4736.
Those with information about the businesses in Batavia that had their glass doors damaged can call the Batavia Police Department Investigations Division at 630-454-2500.
Police are reminding residents to lock their car doors since stolen vehicles are often used to commit other crimes, officials said.
