Two individuals have been arrested and charged on suspicion of involvement in recent burglaries in Western Springs and Downers Grove.

A cooperative effort by the Cook County Major Case Assistance Team netted Javier Granados, 20, of the 1300 block of S. Clinton in Berwyn, and Julian N. Cortez, 17 also of Berwyn Nov. 2. Both individuals have been charged with one count of residential burglary in Western Springs and Berwyn. Granados was also charged with one count of residential burglary in connection with one of a string of recent burglaries in Downers Grove.

The pair was part of a group of three adults and three juveniles arrested after a Brookfield woman called police and reported the license plate number of their vehicle after observing suspicious activity. The tip led to the ensuing two-week undercover investigation, according to Detective Sergeant David Krull of the Riverside police, who was a part of the MCAT that arrested the group.

“We’re hoping that it will curb some of the crime, or that it stops,” Krull said. He added that the individuals arrested were identified as being affiliated with the Sin City Boys, a known Chicago-area gang.

“They would send up to 30 members out to the western suburbs to commit burglaries,” Krull said. He added the gang was using juveniles for many of the burglaries likely as part of initiation rituals or because their ages would prevent stiff penalties if caught.

“Certainly it’s concerning and a little unique and unusual as far as an organized gang committing crimes [in Western Springs],” said Deputy Chief Brian Budds of the Western Springs Police. Budds said the investigation has led to intelligence about the gang and its operations that will help the department combat this type of activity in the future.

Budds also said that information obtained from the investigation has shown the individuals were burglarizing random houses on main streets as they moved west through the suburbs.

One of those houses, located on the 3900 block of Harvey Avenue in Western Springs, was allegedly burglarized by Granados and Cortez, Budds said. He said the vehicle the pair was riding in when they were arrested contained a large screen television reported missing from a burglary from the residence, and has since been returned to the owner.

“We are pleased at the outcome,” Budds said. “We are confident we have a strong case and a conviction will result.”