On April 11th, Sangamon County Deputies responded to the report of a burglary in rural Cantrall. The homeowner reported numerous firearms and a large amount of ammunition were stolen from his property. The stolen firearms included several AR15s, AK47s, shotguns, rifles, and pistols.
A few days later, Deputies attempted to conduct an unrelated traffic stop near the intersection of Clearlake and Milton Avenues. The driver fled and the unoccupied vehicle was located a short distance away. Inside the abandoned vehicle was a shotgun reported stolen from the burglary on Strode Road. The driver of the vehicle, Thomas J. Hunter, was arrested and charged with Possession of a Stolen Firearm and Aggravated Unlawful Use of a Weapon.
Detectives from the Sheriff’s Office began investigating the case and eventually identified and arrested a second suspect in the burglary, Jacob D. Miller. Miller was charged with Burglary, Theft, Possession of a Weapon by a Felon, and Aggravated Unlawful Use of a Weapon.
Thomas J. Hunter is now facing additional charges of Burglary, Theft, and another count of Aggravated Unlawful Use of a Weapon.
To date, 22 stolen firearms have been recovered. The recovered firearms include two AR-15, a .44 magnum revolver, a .22 caliber revolver, a .38 special revolver, a FAL semi-automatic rifle, an M1 Carbine, a .30 caliber rifle, an SKS semi-automatic rifle, a Remington 700 model rifle, an M1 Garand rifle, a .40 caliber pistol, a Remington 870 12 gauge shotgun, and various other antique or collectible firearms.
Hunter and Miller remain incarcerated at the Sangamon County Jail.