Hinsdale Man Breaks Into Church After Being Locked Out of Home

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A 21-year-old Hinsdale man named Zachary G. Gilbert was arrested on charges of felony criminal damage to a place of worship and misdemeanor criminal trespassing after he was found inside a local church on two separate occasions. Gilbert had been locked out of his house by his mother for being out too late, so he broke a basement window to try to get back in, cutting his hand in the process. He then went to the Hinsdale Fil-Am Seventh-Day Adventist Church, where he was seen on camera inside the church for several hours and later fled from police when they responded to a second call about him being on the premises.

Why it matters

This incident highlights the potential consequences of being locked out of one's home, as it can lead to unlawful and potentially dangerous behavior. It also raises concerns about the security of places of worship and the need for churches to have proper safety measures in place to prevent unauthorized entry.

The details

According to the police report, on February 28th, officers were called to the Hinsdale Fil-Am Seventh-Day Adventist Church after a stranger was seen inside. Church representatives told police that cigarette butts had been found in the pastor's office a few days earlier. Surveillance footage showed Gilbert inside the church for several hours that morning, and officers found pry marks on two windows in the treasurer's office as well as two screwdrivers in the landscaping outside a broken window. The next day, police were called to the church again around 8:30 pm, and an officer heard rustling in the bushes before Gilbert ran away. The officer ordered Gilbert to stop, and found him with a black pry bar. Two Bud Light beer cans, one open and one unopened, were also found inside the church. Police determined that Gilbert's mother had locked him out of the house for being out too late, leading him to break a basement window to try to get back in, cutting his hand in the process. In the treasurer's office, officers found a backpack containing a hammer and large screwdrivers.

• On February 28, local officers were called to Hinsdale Fil-Am Seventh-Day Adventist Church.
• On March 1, Zachary G. Gilbert was arrested on charges of felony criminal damage to a place of worship and misdemeanor criminal trespassing.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Zachary G. Gilbert to be released on bail.