Skokie Burglar Apologizes: Tells Resident He Has No Job, Children To Support

A man who broke into a woman's home in north suburban Skokie last week made off with about $700 in cash and jewelry--but also a heavy heart. Police are now searching for a burglar with a guilt complex.

According to the Chicago Tribune, a woman living in the 8000 block of Karlov Street got out of the shower to find a man with a crowbar standing in her bedroom. After promising not to hurt her, the man asked that she give him any money and jewelry in the home.

The Tribune reports:

Opening a safe in the bedroom closet, the woman mentioned the jewelry had belonged to her mother.

"Why did you have to tell me this was your mother's jewelry?" the burglar said, according to the report.

The intruder was repeatedly apologetic, according to a Skokie police report--even while tying the victims hands behind her back with a telephone cord.

"I don't want to do this, but I haven't had a job for so long and I have three children to support," he reportedly said.

Before leaving the home, the man even asked for the woman's cell phone number:

"I'm going to pawn off your mother's jewelry and when I do you're going to get (a call) from a pay phone so you can come there and get it back."

He has yet to call.

Skokie police told WGN that guilt doesn't make home invasion right, and are searching to the suspect. He is described as a tall black male, 6'3 and approximately 220 pounds. He was wearing a pink and white shirt and black Michael Jordan sneakers.

WATCH WGN's coverage of the incident here: