Photo Courtesy of Effingham Police Department
Pictured Above: James Joseph Williams
Effingham, IL-(Effingham Radio)- The Effingham Police Department has identified one individual suspected of burglarizing three Effingham local car washes recently. The three reported burglaries occurred between 8:30 P.M. May 20th and 12:20 A.M. May 21st. A fourth burglary occurred on July 1st at 2:45 A.M. In each incident, video surveillance showed a male subject break into the vacuums and wash bay machines utilizing an angle grinder, causing a combined total of approximately $2,000.00 in damages. He then stole an undetermined amount of currency, mostly quarters, from each machine.
The Bureau of Criminal Investigations launched an investigation, and through information sharing with other Midwestern Law Enforcement Agencies, determined that the suspect in our case had also committed similar burglaries at car washes in both Missouri and Illinois, including locations as near as Greenville and O’Fallon, Illinois. The suspect in the Effingham crimes has been positively identified as 53 year old, James Joseph Williams, of Manchester, Missouri. The results of the investigation were submitted to Effingham County State’s Attorney Bryan Kibler, who issued a warrant for Mr. Williams’ arrest. Felony charges against Mr. Williams include: two counts of Theft and two counts of Criminal Damage to Property. Bond has been set at $20,000.00.
Effingham County States Attorney, Brian Kibler, says that Williams has been arrested, is in custody and being held in a St. Charles County, Missouri jail for alleged offenses in that county.
Commending the coordinated effort of the Bureau of Patrol, Bureau of Criminal Investigations and the network of Law Enforcement agencies working together on this case, Chief Jeffrey Fuesting praised, “Because of the coordinated hard work of our Officers and Detectives, we were able to collect good evidence, including video surveillance, which helped tremendously in identifying this suspect through our collaboration with other agencies in the Midwest.“
The Effingham Police Department encourages you to call the police department at 217-347-0774 to report suspicious activity in your neighborhood or business district. Information can be given anonymously by calling the CRIMESTOPPERS Tip Line at 217 347-6583. Anonymous callers can receive up to $1,000 cash rewards.