March 4, 2015 – Four men with criminal backgrounds and ties to gangs have been arrested and charged with burglarizing stores on and near North Michigan Avenue over the past two years.

Chicago police say the men used crowbars to smash windows. When the stores fortified their windows, the burglars switched to stolen vehicles to crash through doorways. They would then take as many items as possible and flee within two minutes.

Charged with felony burglary are Tommie Adams, age 22, Kenneth Green, age 23, Hershel Phillips, age 18, and Jawon Sellers, age 24. All live on the south side of Chicago near Washington Park. Police say they are affiliated with the Gangster Disciples street gang.

On Monday, a routine traffic stop netted a fifth suspect.

22-year-old Damarco Darring (left), who lives in the 3500 block of South Rhodes Avenue, was pulled over for what police say were minor traffic violations. Officers, however, found he was wanted in connection with a burglary on September 22, 2014, in the 1600 block of North Wells Street.

Darring was charged with felony burglary, theft, marijuana possession, driving on a suspended license, and four traffic citations.