Surveillance sting nabs Oak Lawn garage burglar

(OAK LAWN) Police conducting surveillance after several recent garage burglaries in southwest suburban Oak Lawn caught an alleged burglar in the act early Monday.

Matthew Dearman

Matthew Dearman, 46, of the 9900 block of South Melvina in Oak Lawn, faces one felony count of burglary, according to Oak Lawn police.

Tactical unit detectives saw Dearman walking up a driveway in the 9700 block of South Natoma Avenue without anything in his hands at 4:17 a.m., a statement from police said.

A short time later, they saw him leaving the driveway on a bicycle, carrying a bag, police said. The detectives tried to speak with him, but he dropped the items and ran away through nearby yards.

Officers set up a perimeter and began a search, later finding Dearman hiding behind bushes in a backyard, police said.

The homeowner identified the items in the bag, which included several tools, as property from his garage.

Bond was set at $50,000 for Dearman on Tuesday.