Trying to keep a stolen SUV out of sight isn’t nearly as simple as it used to be. In 2025, high-tech tracking can turn a routine theft into a full-blown police sting — just ask the guy who gambled with a Dodge Durango and lost.
That’s exactly what played out when police tracked a stolen 2025 Dodge Durango to a Best Buy parking lot in Crystal Lake, Illinois. Instead of a routine recovery, the situation escalated fast — from a quiet stakeout to a foot chase, a scuffle with officers, and a prison sentence that would make any car thief think twice.
According to the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office, officers were already parked and watching when they arrived. The only question: when would the driver show up?
When the suspect finally walked out of the store and saw police gathered around the Durango, he made a snap decision: bolt.
Police Were Already Waiting At The SUV
On May 24, 2025, Crystal Lake police received information from the Chicago Police Department about a stolen 2025 Dodge Durango. Thanks to GPS tracking, officers located the SUV in the parking lot of a Best Buy in Crystal Lake.
When police arrived, they found a woman sitting in the passenger seat, but the driver’s seat was empty. Officers stayed near the SUV while waiting to see if the driver would return.
A short time later, 46-year-old Wayne Mikulski of Monroe Center walked out of the store. According to prosecutors in the McHenry County press release, he spotted officers gathered around the Durango and immediately tried to run away.
He didn’t get very far.
The Arrest Quickly Escalated
Police caught up with Mikulski within moments, but investigators say he resisted arrest and fought with officers as they tried to take him into custody.
According to court records, three officers suffered injuries during the struggle before Mikulski was eventually handcuffed.
Authorities say the arrest uncovered more than just a stolen SUV. Officers allegedly found several credit cards belonging to other people, along with methamphetamine.
GPS Technology Is Making It Harder To Hide Stolen Vehicles
Vehicle theft investigations have changed dramatically as more vehicles are equipped with factory-installed GPS systems or aftermarket tracking devices.
Instead of relying solely on witness reports or license plate sightings, officers can often pinpoint a vehicle’s location within minutes after it has been reported stolen.
“As technology evolves, stolen vehicles are increasingly being located through sophisticated GPS tracking systems that provide law enforcement with real-time information,” McHenry County State’s Attorney Randi Freese said in a statement.
The Prison Sentence Wasn’t His Only One
Mikulski pleaded guilty to possession of a stolen motor vehicle, a Class 2 felony, and was sentenced to nine years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.
The sentence adds to the prison time he was already serving.
For Mikulski, what began with a stolen SUV tracked by GPS ultimately became another chapter in a growing list of felony convictions — one that will keep him behind bars for years to come.