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Search Continues For Burglar Who Fled After Police Chase Into Lombard

WOOD DALE, Ill. (CBS) -- The search continues for a South Side man who is accused of trying to break into a west suburban home and then leading police on a chase through three suburbs.

As WBBM Newsradio's Bob Roberts reports, a DuPage County judge on Tuesday issued a $500,000 arrest warrant for the alleged would-be thief, Eugene Saunders, 32, of 7800 S. Francisco Av.

But Wood Dale Deputy Police Chief Mike Rivas said police do not believe Saunders is armed or dangerous.

Rivas said Wood Dale officers surprised two men as they tried to break into a home on the 400 block of George Street in Wood Dale, shortly before midnight Monday. Within minutes, officers had Nakia Tyler, 36, also of Chicago, in custody.

But Rivas said Saunders allegedly sped off. Saunders' Chevy Malibu struck another car in Villa Park as a police officer watched at North Avenue and Addison Road, but kept going onto St. Charles Road in Lombard.

"He overturned his vehicle and fled the area on foot before other officers could get to the scene," Rivas said.

When the fugitive got into downtown Lombard, police say he was almost caught.

"He wound up crashing his car, and fleeing into a residential area – a heavily wounded residential area, said Lombard Police Chief Ray Byrne.

Initially, police told neighbors in Lombard to stay inside, but they later concluded that Saunders had left the area and was not a threat.

A search of the area by officers from several departments was unsuccessful.

Saunders is said to be 6 feet 4 inches tall, weighs 260 pounds, has short black hair and a mustache and wore dark clothing.

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