The Arlington Heights Police Department is investigating a home invasion in the area of 800 N. Chestnut Avenue. On Thursday, February 19, 2026 around 7:33 a.m., Arlington Heights Police Department personnel responded to a burglary in progress in the area of 800 North Chestnut Avenue. Police officers quickly determined a suspected armed offender was inside the residence with the homeowners.
Preliminary information indicated an armed male entered a residence occupied by the two homeowners. The residents were able to secure themselves inside a bedroom and call 911.
Responding officers made a dynamic entry, rescuing the homeowners and escorting them unharmed out of the residence. During the interaction, officers heard the discharge of a firearm from within the residence. Arlington Heights Fire Department personnel responded to the scene.
The officers set up a perimeter and observed the suspect moving inside the residence.
The suspect did not respond to officers’ commands. The Northern Illinois Police Alarm System (NIPAS) was activated for additional assistance with the armed barricaded suspect. Nearby schools were notified and placed on a soft lock down as a precaution.
The incident is contained to a single-family residence and is ongoing. Additional updates will be provided when available.
Arlington Heights police officers responded between 8 AM and 8:30 AM Thursday, February 19, 2026 to a single-family home on Chestnut Avenue just south of Elm Street.
There is no confirmation yet if there is a hostage, but a neighbor reported there was an armed burglar in the house.
Police are addressing the person in the house as “Alex” and were asking him to pick up the phone.
The call developed into a barricaded subject incident with multiple police on scene and NIPAS, SWAT and rescue personnel on scene as well. There is a NIPAS command truck and a NIPAS utility truck, and at least one armored bearcat on scene. The Arlington Heights POLICE/FIRE command truck is also on scene. Some residents have been evacuated from their homes in the area, and there has been an announcement to someone inside the house that they are under arrest and that if they don’t comply, there is a possibility of police using physical force to remove him from the home.
The information in the second part of this article was an early report published before any summary information was confirmed or released by police or fire authorities or witness on the scene.
