Belleville aldermanic candidate Garrett Peek didn't stand by idly as his business on North High Street was burglarized earlier this week. Peek said he chased the suspect down the alley. However, he lost sight of him.

Belleville Police Capt. Don Sax confirmed the victim pursued the suspect for a block or so following a burglary of Melodic Rhythms, 110 N. High, about 4:25 p.m. Wednesday. Peek is the owner of Melodic Rhythms.

Peek said the suspect came into his music business inquiring about bass guitar lessons. "At first sight, we could kind of tell something was sketchy," he said.

The suspect was in the store for about an hour. "At some point, he stole a cell phone and grabbed our television," Peek said.

Peek chased the suspect down the alley between North High and North Jackson, but then lost sight of him.

"I'm running for alderman and I'm tired of the crime. I'm just tired of it," he said. "I want to do something even if it just means getting that one guy off the street."

Peek filed a police report with the Belleville Police Department, and detectives are investigating the incident.

Sax said the suspect remains at large.

"It's very frustrating," Peek said. "He (the suspect) did that in the middle of the day. The brazenness is insane."

Peek estimated the value of the smart phone and flat screen television stolen to be in excess of $1,000.

Sax said he couldn't confirm what was stolen as the investigation is ongoing.

Peek said his business Melodic Rhythms is in the middle of a renovation, which includes installing video cameras.

"We are not unsafe," he said. "People are not going to come and be unsafe at our facility. We take so many security measures. This was a snatch and run basically."

Peek said he doesn't know if the suspect had any kind of weapon.

A detailed description of the suspect was not provided by police. Anyone with information about this crime is asked to call the Belleville police at 618-234-1218.

Contact reporter Jamie Forsythe at 618-239-2562 or jforsythe1@bnd.com.