March 04--A fifth man has been charged in the investigation of a large "crash-and-grab" burglary ring and was ordered held in lieu of $100,000 bail, police said.
Damarco Darring, 22, was charged in connection with the burglary of a high-end resale shop in Old Town about 5:10 a.m. Sept. 22 when thieves made off with more than $100,000 worth of purses, according to police.
Darring, of the 3500 block of South Rhodes Avenue, was arrested Monday on a minor traffic violation in the 8600 block of South Morgan Street, and officers determined he was wanted in connection with the burglary.
At the time of the burglary, police said officers were called to the 1600 block of North Wells Street about 5 a.m. after a burglar alarm sounded at the store. When investigators arrived they found shattered glass in front of the Luxury Garage Sale store, 1658 N. Wells St., officials said.
He and another person used a crowbar to break into the store and took dozens of Chanel bags valued at more than $100,000, Assistant Cook County State's Attorney Erin Antoinetti said at Darring's bond hearing.
According to Antoinetti two witnesses spotted Darring and the other person casing the store before the burglary, Anoinetti said.
Earlier this week, four other men were charged in connection with a "crash-and-grab" ring that barreled through the doors of high-end stores and made off with more than $2 million in merchandise over the past several months, according to police.
Darring's arrest resulted from the same investigation, Operation M.O.E., according to a release from Police News Affairs.
