Man Arrested In String Of Honda Thefts On Northwest Side

By Anna Deem in News on Jan 9, 2011 6:45PM

Lazaro Montanez, 22, of the 3900 block of North Olcott Avenue, has been arrested in connection with a recent string of car thefts in the Belmont Heights neighborhood on the Northwest side. Montanez was charged with four counts of possession of a stolen vehicle and one count of possession of burglary tools, police said via Chicago Breaking News.

After noticing that many Hondas were being stolen and then recovered with their catalytic converters missing, Jefferson Park District police began investigating on the areas where the thefts had occurred. While doing surveillance in the area on Friday afternoon, the officers watched as Montanez used a "jiggler key" to break into a stolen car. They trailed him back to his home, where he was arrested as he attempted to back the car into his garage. Police also found car parts and a stripped-down Honda in Montanez's garage. He is scheduled to appear in court today.