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Downers Grove Manhunt Comes Up Empty

Updated 07/28/11 - 4 p.m.

DOWNERS GROVE, Ill. (WBBM) -- More than two dozen police officers spent several hours on Thursday searching for a burglary suspect, but the manhunt came up empty.

Sources told WBBM Newsradio 780 that as many as 30 officers were involved in the search because the suspect might be tied to a suspicious fire more than a week ago.

Even an Illinois State Police plane assisted in the searching for the suspect - wanted after a burglary to a vehicle.

Downers Grove Police Sergeant David Bormann says the search began about 8:45 a.m. Thursday in the Maple Grove Forest Preserve.

LISTEN: Newsradio 780's Steve Miller reports

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"We responded to an area in the 1300 block of Turvey Lane for the report of a burglary to a vehicle, in progress," Borman said. "A witness said the subject may have had a firearm on him as he was leaving the scene."

The search was called off just before 3 p.m., Bormann said.

"They were out there for about five hours, but unfortunately, did not get anyone."

Bormann said as many as 30 officers were on the scene - including Downers Grove police, Illinois State Police and DuPage County Forest Preserve officers.

Now the question: Why so much manpower?

Bormann won't confirm this - but Newsradio 780 has learned that this may have something to do with a fire more than a week ago, that gutted a nearby Downers Grove mansion.

Sources said that, before that fire, there was a burglary to a vehicle - similar to this one.

The suspect authorities were looking for is described as a white male with dark hair, in his late teens or early twenties, wearing green or olive clothing.

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