'Stupid' slip-up leads police to suspect's door

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CAMPTON HILLS - Incompetence led to a suspect's arrest on burglary charges, police said.

Mark D. Jendrzejczyk, 37, of the 27W300 block of Geneva Road, West Chicago, was charged, Sunday, Dec. 28, with burglary in connection to a break-in at Pizza Cucina, 40W450 Route 64 in the village. Jendrzejczk is being held on $40,000 bond at Kane County Jail.

“I am definitely happy about the fact that they followed up and the criminal aspect was so stupid to leave a calling card - his ignition key in the lobby in front of the restaurant,” said assisant manager Andrew Molter.

“Me and another manager mentioned to police there was a Dodge in the parking lot that did not belong there. The car was a light green Dodge Intrepid, sitting there on a cold night with the window lightly cracked open,” Molter said. “The other manager said, ‘Try it in that car. It’s a Dodge.’ The police did and it fit.”

Jendrzejczyk was arrested at his home Sunday afternoon, Police Chief Greg Anderson said.

Jendrzejczyk broke in through a back door window sometime late Saturday night or early Sunday morning and took the restaurant’s cash drawers, Anderson said.

“His car was found in the area. And through investigation, we back-tracked to develop evidence and interview people to be able to charge him,” Anderson said. “This is the advantage of having experienced police officers who know how to do their job.”

Anderson would not say how much money was taken, nor details of its recovery, as the investigation is continuing.

The break-in was discovered by a tenant who lived in the apartment above the restaurant. Anderson said the tenant saw the broken glass and the door standing open and called police about 1:20 a.m. Sunday.

Molter said the suspect - or suspects - created a big mess between the broken computers and broken window glass.

“They busted up the cash registers, the cash drawers were ripped out and gone and the computers were tossed to and fro,” Molter said. “I spent the day cleaning almost to 4 a.m. so we could be open for business and functioning. You do what you have to do.”