Elgin man charged in repeat series of metal thefts in city
By Janelle Walker For The Courier-News June 21, 2012 8:42PM
Updated: July 23, 2012 7:53AM
ELGIN — An Elgin man has been charged with felony counts of theft of metal for sale as scrap — after previous misdemeanor arrests for similar incidents just a few days prior, police said.
According to police, Jonathon T. Peluso, 28, of the 400 block of Bowen Court, was arrested June 6 for his alleged involvement in a May 19 theft of metal products from the Mount Hope Cemetery, 1001 Villa St.
During that investigation, police said, Peluso also was linked to the theft of steel pipes from a downtown construction site near North Grove Avenue and Kimball Street, and the theft of a steel sewer grate frame from a construction site near Adams and Gertrude streets on the city’s west side.
In those cases, Peluso has been charged with three counts of misdemeanor theft in Kane County and one count of misdemeanor theft in Cook County.
After his release on bond for the June 6 theft, police said, Peluso stole more than 3,300 pounds of steel poles from a west-side Elgin business and took 686 pounds of metal material from an east-side business.
Police Cmdr. Glenn Theriault said officers were investigating the thefts and visiting an area steel recycler when Peluso came in with more of the allegedly stolen materials.
He was again arrested on June 15 on the felony charges. He was in custody Thursday at the Kane County jail in lieu of $60,000 bail.
