Joliet Police Blotter

Now, there's a smart burglar. Ransack a bunch of cars, and then leave clear footprints in the snow for the cops to track you down. Though the degree of evidence incrimination here isn't too strong, unless that "loose change" was a bunch of rare Indian-head pennies and Buffalo nickels that the owners had extensively documented. I'm guessing the perp will walk on this one.

It wasn't hot, but cops were on the trail
JOLIET -- Catching an alleged burglar would have been a lot more difficult any other time of year.

Police were called Monday afternoon to the 1000 block of West Marion Street after residents reportedly observed a man opening car doors and taking items from vehicles parked along the street.

Police arrived to find Joliet resident Joshua D. Prater. They followed the footprints he'd left in the snow to a nearby alley where they allegedly found an ashtray from one of the burglarized vehicles.

Police say loose change found in Prater's pockets was identified as that which had been kept in the ashtray.

Prater, 22, of 261 S. Center St. was arrested and booked into the county jail on charges of burglary.