Cameras led to arrest in restaurant burglary

By Linda Cook | Monday, July 23, 2007

STERLING, Ill. — A Sterling man was being held late Sunday in Whiteside County Jail in connection with a burglary at a Sterling restaurant.

Philip Croy, 42, faces charges of burglary and possession of burglary tools after a burglary Saturday at Sterling Candlelight Restaurant, 2907 N.

Locust St. An undisclosed amount of currency and alcohol was taken, police said. The burglary was reported at 10:41 a.m. Sunday.

At 3:29 p.m. Sunday, Sterling police conducted surveillance on Croy’s residence, then stopped Croy at 2nd Street and 2nd Avenue in Rock Falls.

Croy consented to a search of his residence where items that could be used as evidence were seized. During the investigation, video surveillance recordings led police to focus on Croy as a suspect, police said.

Police said a video recording system was instrumental in solving the case. The Sterling Police Department encourages all businesses to install video systems and keep them operational, along with providing adequate lighting.