3 suspects arrested after $20K in jewelry stolen during burglary at Costco in Mettawa

Three men who allegedly burglarized the Costco in Mettawa of $20,000 in jewelry were taken into custody after an IDOT truck driver spotted them running across Interstate 94 early Saturday morning.

Joseph D. Page, 24, of Waukegan, Cortez R. Morrow, 37, of Chicago, and Clarence D. Blanchard, 26, of Chicago, were all charged with burglary, criminal damage to property and possession of burglary tools.

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office responded around 2:20 a.m. Saturday to Costco, 25901 North Riverwoods Road in Mettawa for a burglar alarm.

The first sheriff’s deputy on the scene located broken glass and a security door propped open, Lake County Sheriff Spokesman Sgt. Christopher Covelli said.

Sheriff’s deputies requested assistance from six police agencies to assist with establishing a perimeter around Costco.

While establishing the perimeter, Illinois State Police received a call of three subjects running eastbound across Interstate 94.

“The subjects ran directly toward an IDOT Utility Truck, which happened to be parked on the northbound exit ramp of I-94 & Rt 60. The subjects dropped bags they were carrying upon seeing the IDOT truck, then fled southbound,” Covelli said.

Gurnee police officer Dan Ruth and his canine partner Bear were requested since there were no on-duty Lake County sheriff’s canine team. The team conducted a search beginning where the suspects dropped the bags.

Canine Bear tracked approximately 1/8 of a mile south directly to a concrete wall which supports an overhead sign for Interstate 94. All three suspects were attempting to hide behind the concrete wall, Covelli said.

“K9 Bear began to bark and the three surrendered. They were taken into custody by sheriff’s deputies assisting with the search,” Covelli said.

Sheriff’s deputies recovered the bags dropped by the offenders, which contained nearly $20,000 worth of high-value jewelry stolen from Costco along with the burglary tools. Sheriff’s deputies also found face masks and gloves near the bags.

The sheriff’s office was assisted by the Gurnee Police Department, Illinois State Police, Park City Police Department, Grayslake Police Department, North Chicago Police Department, Lake Forest Police Department and Vernon Hills Police Department.

Page, Morrow and Blanchard remain held in the Lake County Jail pending an initial court hearing Saturday.