Police Make Arrest in Auto Burglary Case

Evanston police have arrested a local man who they say is connected to an auto burglary that occurred in May on the 1300 block of Hinman.

Prentice Floyd Phillips, of Chicago Avenue, was arrested and charged with one felony count of burglary to a motor vehicle.

Back in May, police responded to a call of an auto burglary in progress, and when police arrived on the scene they received information that the offender had fled the area on foot. Officers could not immediately locate the offender, they said.

"Initial information indicated that the offender had been observed within a vehicle, which was parked in the alley in the 1300 Blk. of Hinman. Witnesses then observed this subject remove a 5 gallon gas can from the vehicle. At this time the offender was confronted by the witness, who was in the process of calling the police," read a statement about the arrest.

Police launched a follow-up investigation into the case, which resulted in a person of interest being identified. Police saught Phillips for months, and eventually detained him. Phillips was eventually identified in a line-up.

His court date is set for July 18 in Skokie.