Three men arrested in the Chicago suburbs earlier this month are now accused of being at the center of a sprawling residential burglary spree stretching across southeast Wisconsin and northern Illinois, investigators say. Prosecutors identified the suspects as 33-year-old Angelo Petrov, 32-year-old Janko Petrov and 47-year-old Ali Ivanov. The trio was taken into custody after coordinated search warrants were executed in Gurnee on April 13. Authorities say the break-ins brought in tens of thousands of dollars in cash and valuables, including a Franklin homeowner's report of roughly $200,000 stolen and an Elm Grove burglary in November where a safe holding about $50,000 was taken. The arrests and follow-up searches are part of an ongoing, multi-jurisdictional investigation touching communities in both states.
Arrests and court status
Two of the suspects, the Petrov brothers, are being held in the Waukesha County Jail on $100,000 cash bonds, while Ivanov is in custody in Cook County, Illinois, as reported by FOX6 News Milwaukee. Prosecutors said the Petrov brothers are scheduled to appear in Waukesha County court on Monday, April 27, and officials note that additional charges or extradition steps could follow as investigators sort through evidence and warrants. According to the FOX6 report, those details are based on information from the Waukesha County District Attorney’s Office and records in the Wisconsin Circuit Court.
How investigators connected the cases
Law enforcement in Illinois and Wisconsin say the arrests came after a coordinated investigative effort that included multiple search warrants in Gurnee and a review of recovered electronics and records, according to Lake and McHenry County Scanner. Elm Grove Assistant Police Chief Ryan Unger told reporters the November break-in involved forced entry and the theft of a safe holding jewelry, a firearm and roughly $50,000 in cash. The Gurnee operation brought out SWAT teams and specialized police dogs, and investigators say they recovered a significant amount of cash along with other potential evidence from local residences.
Alleged pattern and victims
Investigators say the group appeared to focus on homes linked to Asian or Middle Eastern business owners, striking when residents were away. Detectives connected the suspects to multiple break-ins using cell phone records and data obtained from an iCloud account, details outlined by FOX6 News Milwaukee. Officials have not released full charging documents to the public, but the pattern they describe has prompted law enforcement in several communities to pull old files and review unsolved burglaries for possible ties to the Gurnee arrests. Elm Grove police say the investigation is still active and they plan to share updates on their social media channels as appropriate.
What’s next in the investigation
Authorities say the three suspects could be extradited to Wisconsin as prosecutors decide whether to file additional counts after examining the recovered items and digital evidence. The Petrov brothers' April 27 court appearance is expected to be an early turning point in the Waukesha County case, while Ivanov remains in Cook County custody as officials sort out any transfer. Investigators have asked anyone with information to contact detectives in Elm Grove. Neighbors in Gurnee who watched the April law enforcement operation say multiple search warrants were carried out at homes in the 7100 block of Brae Court and the 800 block of Ravinia Drive.
