Putnam County, IL – In an unsettling pattern of targeting defunct industrial sites, Caleb J Prose, 45, from Girard, has been arrested by the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office for his alleged involvement in a series of burglaries at closed power plant facilities across Illinois. This recent incident in rural Hennepin marks Prose’s second arrest for similar crimes, spotlighting the challenges law enforcement faces in curbing specialized thefts and managing recidivism among individuals on pretrial release.
The narrative of Prose’s alleged criminal activities began in February 2024, when he first attracted law enforcement attention following a burglary at a decommissioned power plant in Montgomery County. That operation, allegedly planned and executed with precision, resulted in the recovery of stolen property valued at approximately $500,000. Despite being apprehended and placed on pretrial release, Prose is suspected of reverting to his previous behaviors, allegedly targeting another closed power facility.
This second arrest came after a detailed investigation, initiated by a routine traffic stop in Hennepin Township, which led authorities to connect Prose to the recent alleged burglary. The pattern of targeting these specific facilities suggests a niche area of criminal activity that presents unique challenges to law enforcement agencies.
Following a detention hearing on March 17, Prose was remanded to the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office Jail. As the investigation continues, questions loom about the attraction of closed power plants as targets for alleged burglaries and the measures needed to deter such incidents in the future.
