Crystal Lake Man Charged with 17 Car Burglaries, Theft, Forgery

A Crystal Lake man arrested last month for unlawful use of a credit card and possession of heroin has been charged with 22 additional offenses, most for car burglaries, according to Crystal Lake Police.

Daniel K. White, 27, 1528 Candlewood Dr., was originally arrested on Dec. 19. But on Wednesday the McHenry County State's Attorney approved a long list of additional charges against White, as the result of an ongoing investigation, Crystal Lake Police Cmmdr. Dan Dziewor said in the press release.

Last month, police received several reports of car burglaries in the southwestern part of Crystal Lake. Investigators discovered credit cards taken from vehicles had been used at several area retail establishments to make unauthorized purchases. Using surveillance videos from the stores, and neighborhood canvasses, White became a suspect, Dziewor said in the release. 

Crystal Lake Police obtained an arrest warrant, and on Dec. 19 executed a search warrant at White's home on Candlewood Drive. White was taken into custody and charged with two counts of unlawful use of a credit card, and unlawful possession of a controlled substance - heroin, Dziewor said.

Multiple items were seized as a result of the search warrant, and the investigation continued.

Members of the Crystal Lake Police Department’s Investigations Division were able to link several of the seized items directly to the previously reported burglaries.

The McHenry County State’s Attorney Office reviewed the new findings and on Wednesday, Jan. 23, authorized 17 additional counts of burglary to motor vehicle, three counts of possession of another person's credit card, one count of forgery and one count of theft, Dziewor said.

White, who was still in custody at the McHenry County Jail, was served with the additional criminal charges. His bond was set at $75,000.

As a result of this investigation, 22 Crystal Lake criminal cases were cleared by arrest and 12 more cases were cleared exceptionally (resolved but with no charges files).

In "cleared" cases, the offender is identified, but no charge is filed.

"Many victims decline participation in the prosecution process, and only want their property returned," Dziewor stated by e-mail. "The matter is resolved without court action."

Some burglaries dated back as far as April 2012. White remains in custody at the McHenry County Jail. In addition, several cases of fraudulent credit card use were also cleared in the Elgin, Carpentersville and Algonquin.