Naperville's string of business burglaries has led to the arrest of a homeless man, Prudencio Ugaban, who now faces six counts of Class 2 felony burglary, as announced by DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and Naperville Chief of Police Jason Arres in statements obtained by the DuPage County government. Following his court appearance this morning, Ugaban was released from custody under certain conditions as mandated by state law after his pre-trial detention hearing.
Ugaban's alleged burglary spree spanned from July 24 through September 7, involving multiple incidents at Naperville businesses that include twice at the Spice Mart, once at Bombay Chopsticks, and two separate Marathons, one of which he returned to burglarize again after three weeks, which highlights a pattern that the Naperville Police deemed necessary to cease; and his latest alleged break-in on September 7, at a Marathon gas station at 991 W. Ogden Avenue, repeats a pattern seen in past incidents. Authorities took Ugaban into custody on September 13, after finding him in a vehicle with a shattered window in the 1500 block of W. Ogden.
State’s Attorney Berlin expressed his dissatisfaction with the Safe-T-Act, stating, "This fact illustrates the need for changes to the State’s Safe-T-Act to give judges more discretion at a defendant’s First Appearance Court pre-trial detention hearing." He underscored the need for judicial power to make decisions on pre-trial detentions, as opposed to legislative mandates, highlighting this case as a prime example of the challenges presented by the current judicial system. However, the alleged end of Ugaban's burglaries is attributed to the "persistent efforts of the Naperville Police Department," Berlin asserted.
Charging forward, Naperville's police force, led by Chief Arres, evidences professionalism and tenacity; the arrest of Ugaban stands testament to a commitment to uphold public safety and propriety in business districts, the steadfast dedication of the district's officers and detectives comes into sharp relief with the resolution of this case, Arres emphasized the collective gratitude towards law enforcement and the collaboration with the State’s Attorney for their comprehensive efforts in apprehending Ugaban, who is scheduled to reappear in court on October 14, 2025, before Judge Joseph Bugos—imposed conditions stipulate he must refrain from contacting or going near any of the burglarized businesses.
It is imperative for the public to remember that the charges against Ugaban are allegations and not an indication of guilt, and like any defendant, he retains the presumption of innocence until proven otherwise beyond reasonable doubt at trial.
