Illinois Homeowner Returns to Find 3 Men Loading His Garage Belongings Onto a Trailer
A homeowner in rural Illinois returned to his property to find three men loading items from his garage onto a trailer, according to the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies arrived while the men were still at the property, bringing the reported daylight burglary to an abrupt end.
The discovery happened Thursday, November 5, near Mulkeytown, a small community in southern Illinois. Deputies were sent to the residence around 10:40 a.m., after a report came in that a burglary was taking place.
Instead of finding an empty garage after the suspects had left, deputies encountered three men who had been moving property onto a trailer. They spoke with the homeowner and gathered information before placing all three under arrest.
The men now face felony burglary and theft charges, and court records show that prosecutors opened three separate criminal cases the following day. All three had their first court appearances scheduled for November 6, with preliminary hearings set for December.
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In his November 6 Facebook statement, Sheriff Kyle Bacon identified the men as Travis D. Kraus, 38, and Michael A. Perkins, 46, both of Zeigler, along with Billie R. Williams, 54, of West Frankfort.
Each was charged with burglary, a Class 2 felony, and theft, a Class 3 felony. The sheriff’s office transported all three to the Franklin County Jail, where they remained in custody when Bacon announced the arrests the following morning.
Bacon did not identify the items being loaded onto the trailer or provide an estimate of their value. His statement also did not describe how the men entered the garage, although it established that the homeowner arrived before deputies and was present when they investigated the reported theft.
Dates in Court
Records available through Judici, Illinois’ online court information system, show that separate felony cases were opened against Kraus, Perkins, and Williams on November 6. Each defendant had a first appearance scheduled for 1 p.m. that day before Judge Giacone.
Kraus is represented by attorney Paula Newcomb and has a preliminary hearing scheduled for December 2 at 1:30 p.m. before Judge Owens. Williams, whose attorney is listed as Kevin C. Popit, is scheduled to appear before the same judge at the same time.
Perkins is scheduled for a preliminary hearing at 9:30 a.m. on December 2 before Judge Cook, with Nathan Rowland listed as his defense attorney. The case-information records were updated November 9, confirming the upcoming hearings but not establishing whether the men remained in custody after their initial court appearances.
Broad Daylight
After announcing the arrests, Bacon reminded Franklin County residents that burglars do not always wait until dark. He said many of the thefts and burglaries investigated by his deputies happen during daylight hours, when homes, garages, and other buildings may be empty.
Rural properties can be especially vulnerable when owners are away, and Bacon encouraged residents to report suspicious people, vehicles, or activity rather than ignore something unusual. He also urged neighbors to share information about potential problems and take an active role in watching over nearby properties.
The sheriff’s Facebook announcement drew comments from residents who praised the deputies, while others expressed concern that the men might be released. One commenter wrote, “Please keep them!” Another thanked the sheriff’s office and said they hoped the three suspects had not been released.
Those comments did not establish whether any defendant remained jailed after November 6. The next court dates listed for all three men are December 2, when preliminary hearings are scheduled in Franklin County Circuit Court.
