Trio Charged with Burglary After Industrial Site Break-In
Three men have been charged after police say they were caught breaking into a secured industrial property in the early hours of July 3, 2025. The site, a former BP Refinery now owned by U.S. Steel, had been fully fenced and locked.
According to court documents, East Chicago officers, assisted by units from Whiting and Hammond responded around 1:36 a.m. to a burglary in progress at 101 E. 129th Street.
Upon arrival, they found Alex D. Bonds, 35, Alvin D. Spearmon, 29, and Carlieke J. Carpenter, 36, hiding inside the facility. Carpenter allegedly fled the scene but was located by a K-9 unit hiding in a nearby basement.
All three suspects were reportedly dressed in ski masks and gloves. Police recovered a backpack containing tools capable of cutting copper and other metal wiring inside one of the buildings. A white 2025 Ram Pro-Master U-Haul van was also found parked across the street, and a key fob for it was recovered from Bonds. Investigators discovered a cut made in the perimeter fencing.
A manager for U.S. Steel confirmed that no one had been granted permission to be on the property. Surveillance video showed a fourth individual fleeing the scene; that suspect remains unidentified.
Charges were filed on July 3, 2025.
Charges Filed:
- Alex D. Bonds, 35, of Lake Station – Burglary, Level 5 Felony
- Carlieke J. Carpenter, 36, of Chicago – Burglary, Level 5 Felony
- Alvin D. Spearmon, 29, of Gary – Burglary, Level 5 Felony
Bonds, Carpenter, and Spearmon are currently lodged in the Lake County Jail.
