Joliet shelter-in-place order lifted; 3 in custody in search for burglary suspects

CHICAGO (CBS)-- Three suspected burglars are in custody, after an hours-long manhunt in Joliet. One suspect remains at large, and he might be armed.

Homeowners in part of Joliet were put on alert early Tuesday morning after the suspected burglars made their way there from DuPage County.

Joliet police said officers took three suspects into custody this morning. They believe a fourth person is still on the run, but no longer in the area.

Police are also crediting neighbors for their help.

If one guy hadn't been so observant, he might have driven to work with a suspected car thief in his trunk.

A neighborhood hopes the rest of the day – will be better than how it started.

Christine – who preferred not to share her last name – was one of thousands in Joliet who got the reverse 911 call to shelter in place around 5:30 a.m. That order was lifted around 10:30 a.m., after police said they believe the remaining suspect had left the area.

Joliet police said law enforcement agencies from DuPage County chased suspected car thieves in two stolen cars to Black Road and Junie Court, where four suspects took off running around 5 a.m.

"I guess they all scattered," Christine said.

At least one fled in the direction of Christine's home.

"There's an undercover cop in front of the house. I said, 'and oh, no, there's a lot more cops coming, and I'm like, 'They're getting out of their cars. They're coming up the driveway.' I said, 'I think they're in our back yard,'" she said.

As police and K-9 units scoured backyards, Christine's neighbor peered out his window.

"I looked, and I saw someone in our garage in the window, crouched down, peering out the window," the neighbor said.

He didn't want to share his name or face – just the story of what happened next.

"I went to the front of the house, called the police from across the street, and said, 'He's in our garage,'" he said.

As police moved in, Christine recorded from next door.

"They came over with police dogs and shields and guns drawn," her neighbor said.

In the garage, officers knew just where to look.

"They popped the trunk to the other car, and the next thing we knew, they had the suspect on the ground, handcuffed, and took him away," the neighbor said.

21:21:36 "then they walked him down the driveway here."

Christine applauded police and her neighbor.

"I know! I'm like, I want to tell him he's a hero," she said.

That neighbor said he's just grateful he looked out the window and looked after the neighborhood.

"I'm glad I did. You know, this is our neighborhood," he said.

Joliet police said they'll have officers on patrol all day on Tuesday, and will be highly visible. They're also asking people to check their yards for anything the suspects might have left behind.