19-Year-Old Charged With Stealing From Aurora Fire Station While Firefighters Were on Call
(CREDIT: Aurora Fire Department Google page. Photo by Christopher Wiley)
The Aurora Police Department has secured a burglary charge through the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office on a 19-year-old South Holland man who allegedly stole items from a Far East Side Fire Station while the firefighters were on emergency calls.
Cameron L. Duke (CREDIT: Aurora Police Department)
Cameron L. Duke of the 1000 block of E. 66th St., was charged in connection with the July 2 burglary at Aurora -IL Fire Department Station No. 8 in the 3700 block of McCoy Drive.
That afternoon, the firefighters at Station 8 all responded to emergency calls with the last crew answering a fire call around 4:30 p.m., which left the fire station empty. When they returned about 30 minutes later, one of the firefighters noticed his backpack that contained personal items valued at $450, was missing from his bunk.
Less than 24 hours later, at around 1:50 p.m. July 3, police were dispatched to a crash in the 300 block of Gregory Street. Upon arrival, a patrol officer found Duke behind the wheel of his 2006 Chevrolet Impala and discovered that he had failed to negotiate a turn and ended up colliding with an unoccupied, parked, 2000 Toyota Corolla.
(CREDIT: Google Maps)
As the officer questioned Duke, he detected a strong odor of burnt cannabis coming from the interior of the Impala. Duke consented to a search of the vehicle, and it was during the search that the officer found proceeds still in the backpack that were taken in the Fire Station burglary, in the back seat.
Duke was taken into custody without incident. It is believed that Duke entered a door that was inadvertently left unlocked while fire personnel responded to the emergency calls, police said.
Duke was also cited for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident. There was no other contraband in the vehicle. Duke refused medical treatment.
The charges are not proof of guilt. Duke is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which it is the burden of the state to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
SOURCE: Aurora Police Department news release
