Illinois Man Charged in Cedar Lake Residential Burglary Case
An Illinois man has been charged after police say he entered a Cedar Lake home, ate food inside, and carried items to his vehicle before being confronted by the homeowner.
According to court documents, on August 9, 2025, Lake County Sheriff’s officers responded to a residence on West 151st Avenue in Cedar Lake for a report of a suspicious person. The homeowner reported seeing a man inside his garage and later around his property. Officers arrived and encountered a man matching the suspect description, later identified as Jeremy Ryan Johns, near the garage. Police say Johns did not comply with repeated commands and was incapacitated with a taser before being taken into custody.
The homeowner told police that security camera footage showed Johns entering his kitchen multiple times, eating pizza by the stove, and carrying bottled beverages to his vehicle, a gray 2011 Honda Accord. Footage also allegedly showed Johns walking through other parts of the home and into the garage. Bottled water and drinks were later found in Johns’ vehicle.
During an interview, Johns admitted to going into the garage and kitchen, saying he went to the house because he “felt like I was supposed to meet a girl there.” He also stated that the past couple of days had been “kind of weird” and compared it to “the purge… in real life.”
Charges filed August 11, 2025:
• Burglary of a dwelling (Level 4 felony)
• Residential entry (Level 6 felony)
• Theft (Class A misdemeanor)
• Criminal trespass (Class A misdemeanor)
