A recent burglary in Bucktown took an unexpected turn when the thief unknowingly took a tracking device with him. The incident occurred in the early hours of Friday morning when the intruder entered a home on North Honore Street. A family member spotted the intruder on their home security feed and immediately called 911.
The police were able to track down the suspect, identified as 47-year-old Angel Gonzalez-Rivera, thanks to an AirTag attached to a stolen keychain. The AirTag allowed officers to follow the signal to the 1500 block of North Maplewood Avenue, where Gonzalez-Rivera was apprehended.
Video footage from the home security system showed the burglar wandering through the house for over ten minutes before leaving with the stolen items. The police broadcasted a detailed description of the suspect, noting that he had inadvertently taken the active AirTag along with the stolen keys.
Gonzalez-Rivera was charged with one count of residential burglary, but court records show that he was released to await trial by Judge James Murphy III. The use of the tracking device in this case highlights the importance of technology in aiding law enforcement in solving crimes.
CWBChicago, a local news outlet, provided original reporting on this incident. The publication was founded in 2013 by residents of Wrigleyville and Boystown who were dissatisfied with the accuracy of information provided at local Community Policing meetings. Their mission is to deliver detailed public safety reporting with better context than mainstream media outlets.
For more original reporting on local crime and public safety issues, visit CWBChicago.com.
