Plainfield Burglar Busted by Off Duty Cop, Joliet Police Say

By Karen Sorensen

An off-duty Downers Grove police officer awakened by a barking dog nabbed a man as he broke into a house across the street from the officer's Joliet home, Joliet Police Cmdr. Al Roechner said. 

Kevin M. Loren, 36, of 6615 Mountain Ridge Pass, Plainfield, was charged with residential burglary, burglary to a motor vehicle and two counts of battery after being caught emerging from a house in the 1600 block of Sierra Highlands at about 10:30 p.m. Saturday.

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The officer, whose name was not released, told police he watched from a window as Loren tried to open car doors on the block before finding one that was unlocked, Roechner said. Loren "rummaged around inside the vehicle" before apparently finding a remote control that allowed him to open the house's garage door, he said.

The officer, armed with his department-issued gun, confronted Loren, arrested him and brought him back to his house, where his wife called Joliet police, Roechner said. 

As they waited for police to arrive, Loren punched the officer in the face and the pair got into a struggle during which the officer's gun discharged, Roechner said. No one was injured and it appears the officer acted appropriately, he said.

The officer's wife retrieved his handcuffs from inside the house and Loren was subdued, he said.

Joliet officers found several items in Loren's possession that appeared stolen, and it's possible Loren will be charged one or more additional burglaries, Roechner said. 

Loren is being held in the Will County jail in lieu of $20,000 bond.

About this column: Police report information is provided by local police departments. Charges are not evidence of guilt. They are a record of police actions on a given day, and persons charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court. If you or a family member are charged or cited and the case is subsequently adjudicated, we encourage you to notify the editor. We will verify and report the outcome.
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