Two arrested in Island City Storage burglary

On Saturday, Sept. 2, at approximately 5 pm, Brett A. Hartell, 18 and his friend – a 17 year old male, both of Elwood — were
arrested while attempting to flee the scene after burglarizing the Island City Storage facility on North Kankakee Street in Wilmington.

The burglars were found in possession of multiple tools that they stole from the business.

Further investigation by Wilmington Police Officers revealed that Hartell had phoned the business earlier in the day to determine their hours of business, so that he could return later when the business was closed. However, what appeared to be an easy job for Hartell went bad when he found out there were security cameras inside the facility. By the time he realized it, the business owner had already been alerted to the security breach and showed up just in time to catch the bandits attempting to leave the property.

Police were then notified, and took both subjects into custody. Officers discovered that the burglars had forced entry through a door on the east side of the building, and found several more power tools that had been dropped during their effort to flee the area. Video from the inside surveillance system confirmed that the two males captured outside were the same ones who had been inside stealing tools.

Both males were arrested on felony charges for Burglary, Criminal Damage to Property, and Criminal Trespassing. Hartell was transported to the Will County Adult Detention Facility, while the juvenile was transported to River Valley Juvenile Detention Center to await bond hearings. Bond for Hartell was set at $10,000, with 10 percent to apply for his release. According to the Will County Sheriff's Department, Hartell bonded out on Sept. 4.