SALINE COUNTY – Three burglary arrests were recently made in Saline County.
According to the Saline County Sheriff’s Office, a K-9 deputy and Harrisburg Police responded shortly before 5 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 22 to a burglary at the curve of McHaney Road and Liberty Road in Harrisburg.
Deputies cleared the home and learned the suspect, identified as Robert L. Presley, had been caught on camera. He left the scene.
While searching for the suspects, a vehicle was stopped for a moving violation as it left the area. Presley, who was the suspect on camera at the burglary and still wearing the same clothes, was driving the vehicle. Officers located stolen property in the suspect vehicle.
Presley was additionally charged with Possession of Methamphetamine and Driving while Revoked.
Then just after 5 p.m. that same day, deputies responded to a burglary alarm on Illinois 142 south of Eldorado.
They learned the would-be thieves forced their way inside and tried to steal a UTV, but they left after they couldn’t get it started. Deputies also located two abandoned four-wheelers – suspected to be stolen from the Galatia area – on coal mine property nearby and continued searching for the suspects.
Around 7:30 p.m., deputies received a call about another burglary nearby. Saline County and Eldorado Police also received calls of the burglary at the same time and all responded. The victims had followed the suspects from the nearby burglary as they reported the location to law enforcement.
Eldorado Police arrive on scene in Parrish Addition and were joined by a Saline County deputy.
Officers located and arrested Alicia R. Barton for two separate burglaries on south Illinois 142. One suspect, Max E. Walters, fled from officers and is still a person of interest in connection with the burglaries.
Then at about 11:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 23, Saline County Central Dispatch received a call of another burglary on Illinois 142 south of Eldorado. A Saline County deputy and Eldorado Police responded.
While the deputy was speaking with two people of interest, an Eldorado officer spoke with the victims who had captured the burglar on their surveillance system. Rusty E. Banks was taken into custody for the burglary and theft.
Anyone with information about these incidents, or sees suspicious activity at any time, should call the Saline County Sheriff’s Office, Harrisburg Police, Eldorado Police or Carrier Mills Police.
