Man tries to steal catalytic converter from car with victim inside; accomplice caught with stolen gun: police
Charges Filed
Anthony Huggins, 33, faces charges of possession of a stolen motor vehicle or essential part, unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon, possession of burglary tools, and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon without a FOID card.
Clinton Bigelow, also 33, is charged with possession of a stolen motor vehicle or essential part and possession of burglary tools.
Incident Details
Police were called to the Carol Stream Animal Hospital on Elk Trail around 12:45 p.m. Monday after a witness reported seeing someone crawling under a car in the parking lot.
Officers determined that a Dodge Caravan with two occupants, later identified as Huggins and Bigelow, had parked next to an employee’s car. Bigelow allegedly exited the van with a cordless saw, crawled under the vehicle, and attempted to remove its catalytic converter. When the employee opened her car door, Bigelow reportedly returned to the van, which then left the scene.
Discovery of Stolen Goods and Weapon
Police stopped the Caravan about half a mile away. A search of the vehicle allegedly uncovered seven catalytic converters in the back.
While at the Carol Stream Police Department, officers reportedly found a loaded Glock 43 handgun, previously reported stolen in Detroit, hidden inside Huggins’ slipper.
Next Steps
Huggins was denied pretrial release after a judge’s ruling, while Bigelow was not detained pretrial. Both men are scheduled to appear in court on Dec. 23.
Conclusion
The alleged attempted theft of a catalytic converter and the subsequent discovery of stolen goods and a weapon highlight the importance of vigilance and swift action by law enforcement to prevent and prosecute these types of crimes.
FAQs
Q: What charges have been filed against the two men?
A: Anthony Huggins faces charges of possession of a stolen motor vehicle or essential part, unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon, possession of burglary tools, and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon without a FOID card. Clinton Bigelow is charged with possession of a stolen motor vehicle or essential part and possession of burglary tools.
Q: What happened during the incident?
A: A witness reported seeing someone crawling under a car in the parking lot of the Carol Stream Animal Hospital. Police determined that two occupants of a Dodge Caravan, later identified as Huggins and Bigelow, had parked next to an employee’s car. Bigelow allegedly attempted to remove the catalytic converter from the employee’s car.
Q: What was found during the search of the vehicle?
A: Police found seven catalytic converters in the back of the Caravan, as well as a loaded Glock 43 handgun hidden inside Huggins’ slipper.
Q: What is the next step in the case?
A: Both men are scheduled to appear in court on Dec. 23. Huggins was denied pretrial release, while Bigelow was not detained pretrial.
