Eric Bramwell
A man found guilty of stealing a TV remote control from the common area of a Wheaton apartment complex and who "repeatedly thumbed his nose at the law" has been sentenced to 22 years in prison, DuPage County prosecutors said Friday.
Eric Bramwell, 35, of Melrose Park, had been found guilty in November of burglary and was eligible for an extended-term sentence because of his past criminal history, according to prosecutors.
Authorities alleged that Bramwell entered the common area of the apartment building in the 100 block of Cross Street on Aug. 1, 2015, and stole the universal remote to the television set. But, prosecutors say, Bramwell dropped a glove while at the complex, and a DNA sample taken from it was matched to Bramwell's DNA in a database of convicted felons, which led to his arrest.
He was alleged to have committed similar thefts of remotes and televisions in other apartment complexes in Wheaton, Lisle, Aurora, Bloomingdale, Downers Grove and Oakbrook Terrace, prosecutors said.
"Mr. Bramwell's illegal activity and his history have finally caught up with him," State's Attorney Robert Berlin said. "Regardless of what was stolen, Mr. Bramwell repeatedly thumbed his nose at the law. He took what he wanted time and time again and expected to avoid the consequences. That's not how it works, as Mr. Bramwell has now found out."
Judge Robert Miller sentenced Bramwell on Wednesday. He will be required to serve half the sentence before he is eligible for parole.
According to court files, Miller had in November sentenced Bramwell to six months in jail for contempt for using profane language in court.
#1: Justified To: cranky (#0)
WTF! I have $10's of thousands stolen from me and the police won't even take finger prints. I have the guys hat and they really do not care but they are willing to do a DNA test over a "universal remote"?
I think the someone pulled some strings to get a DNA test.
Justified posted on 2017-01-08 17:29:12 Reply Private Reply
#2: Hank Rearden To: cranky (#0)
Hank Rearden posted on 2017-01-08 17:34:09 Reply Private Reply
#3: cranky To: Justified (#1)
In Rancho Cordova, the badged bureaucrats just tell crime victims to go online and fill out a crime report.
cranky posted on 2017-01-08 18:12:28 Reply Private Reply
#4: cranky To: Hank Rearden (#2)
Especially if they're in possession of a remote control.
Not only are they dangerous but annoying, too.
cranky posted on 2017-01-08 18:13:57 Reply Private Reply
#5: Justified To: Hank Rearden, cranky (#2)
Justified posted on 2017-01-08 18:43:39 Reply Private Reply
#6: cranky To: Justified (#5)
And that crappy ink sure doesn't help.
cranky posted on 2017-01-08 18:46:41 Reply Private Reply
#7: Justified To: cranky (#6)
Justified posted on 2017-01-08 18:48:59 Reply Private Reply
#8: cranky To: Justified (#7)
Yeah, remote controls are just the beginning.
If he's not stopped, he'll be stealing hood ornaments next.
cranky posted on 2017-01-08 19:10:58 Reply Private Reply
#9: GrandIsland To: cranky (#0)
He's a serial burglar. Not just a YELLA thief. They should hang him.
GrandIsland posted on 2017-01-08 22:35:10 Reply Private Reply
#10: Justified To: cranky (#8)
He is a career criminal. Im sure he is a druggy because only druggies do this kinda stealing. If not stopped he will get worse and worse until he does real harm. Sounds like he wants to go to jail.
Eric Bramwell, 35, of Melrose Park, had been found guilty in November of burglary and was eligible for an extended-term sentence because of his past criminal history, according to prosecutors.
I have no mercy for career criminals. Either reform or pay the price.
Justified posted on 2017-01-09 10:47:02 Reply Private Reply
#11: cranky To: Justified (#10)
I agree with that but I still question expending all those resources to catch a petty thief.
cranky posted on 2017-01-09 13:11:12 Reply Private Reply
#12: Justified To: cranky (#11)
Justified posted on 2017-01-09 17:09:06 Reply Private Reply
#13: cranky To: Justified (#12)
I just can't believe that was the best use of a dna test.
cranky posted on 2017-01-09 17:30:42 Reply Private Reply
#14: GrandIsland To: cranky (#11)
He's not a "petty thief". That's the libtard spin you and the other agenda posters paint this forum YELLA with. He's a filthy scumbag career BURGLAR.
Wake the F' up and smell the coffee, big foot and conspiracy freak.
GrandIsland posted on 2017-01-09 18:16:18 Reply Private Reply
#15: Justified To: cranky (#13)
I use to think so too until I was burglarized more times than Obama printed out executive orders. It seems petty until you can not function as a citizen and are more worried about someone stealing everything you own every time you go to bed or leave the house. I have probably lost 10 years off my life and could easily pay for the officers salary for a year in lost wages. I have PTSD of the damn thing. I want to find the bastards and beat their brains into mush.
Justified posted on 2017-01-10 08:37:43 Reply Private Reply
#16: cranky To: Justified (#15)
I have been burglarized also but I sill think active investigations involving violent crimes against people should take precedence over petty theft.
To me, as a taxpayer and citizen that protects and safeguards his own property, it's just a matter of priorities.
cranky posted on 2017-01-10 09:09:05 Reply Private Reply
#17: Justified To: cranky (#16)
Today's petty criminal will be tomorrows harden criminal.
You are looking at the remote issue and thinking its just mischief. This is more than a someone stealing a remote. This is a career thief and someone in the police department had a hunch it was this guy that was burglarizing these people. So they got a DNA test to confirm it. I wish all police departments would do this.
What happens when this guy breaks into house with a teenage girl and rapes her because its the next step on his progression of being a criminal? We would be asking how come the police did not catch this guy sooner. Well in this case they did.
Justified posted on 2017-01-10 09:52:29 Reply Private Reply
#18: cranky To: Justified (#17)
Not mischief but petty theft.
It's not up to me but if I had to prioritize which open cases to throw resources at, I certainly would not put petty theft near the top and I would put more resources to deter crimes against people than I would crimes against property.
But that's just me and aside from voting, I really don't have any say in the matter.
cranky posted on 2017-01-10 10:34:54 Reply Private Reply