Lakeview, Lincoln Park Among Targets in $90K Burglary Wave, Suspect Sentenced

CHICAGO, Illinois — A 31-year-old serial burglar with a lengthy criminal record has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for a string of residential break-ins across Chicago’s North Side, prosecutors confirmed.

Four Guilty Pleas, Multiple Cases Dropped

The defendant, James Myers, pleaded guilty to four counts of residential burglary in exchange for a 10-year concurrent sentence from Judge Charles Burns. Prosecutors agreed to drop charges in two additional burglaries.

Court filings show Myers targeted homes in Lakeview, Lincoln Park, Edgewater, and Roscoe Village, often pawning the stolen items for a fraction of their true value.

A Violent Encounter in Lakeview

In one August 2023 case, Myers punched a 38-year-old woman in the face after she caught him burglarizing her home in the 600 block of West Grace Street. He fled with her wallet, $4,000 in cash, perfume, an Apple Watch, and a professional camera.

Detectives later linked him to five additional break-ins, including:

• An Edgewater woman’s home on North Magnolia, where $8,000 in jewelry was stolen.
• A Lincoln Park residence where guitars and a VR headset were taken.
• A Lakeview couple’s home on West Melrose, where more than $90,000 in jewelry and luxury items were stolen while they were on vacation.

Trail of Evidence Through Pawn Shops

Investigators said Myers often presented his state ID when pawning stolen property, leaving behind a paper trail that tied him to multiple burglaries. Surveillance cameras also caught him carrying a FedEx envelope as he entered and exited several homes.

Prior Criminal Record

Myers was discharged from parole in December 2023 after serving half of a four-year sentence for a Park Forest robbery. His record also includes:

• Resisting police in 2016
• Theft in Old Town in 2019
• Burglary in Lincoln Park in 2019

Sentence Details

Although Myers received a 10-year sentence, Illinois law allows for reductions:

• His term will be cut in half for good behavior.
• He will receive an additional 624 days’ credit for time served while awaiting trial.

The sentence highlights both the persistence of repeat offenders in Chicago’s North Side neighborhoods and ongoing frustrations for residents who’ve faced burglaries and violent encounters.

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