A number of trucks and trailers were allegedly stolen in Morton as part of a burglary at Federal Warehouse Co. Sunday afternoon resulting in cigarettes, reportedly valued at $1 million, taken from the building.

East Peoria police were called to the scene about 12:30 p.m. after a Federal Warehouse Co. truck driver noted an open bay door at the business at 200 National Road.

Upon searching the building, police noticed a disruption in both the office and warehouse areas of the building.

Near the forklifts, there were several pallets of cigarettes strewn across the floor, according to a police report. It appeared as though the burglars entered the building through a hole that had been cut in the warehouse’s roof.

Jeff Bogdan, co-owner and vice president of sales and marketing at Federal Warehouse Co., said nothing appeared to have been stolen besides a large amount of cigarettes. He declined Tuesday to comment on the items’ monetary value.

“As far as the value, I can’t really say,” he said. “But, tobacco is very expensive ... This isn’t an isolated incident. There’s a black market in the tobacco industry.”

Added Bogdan, “These were very skilled, professional criminals. These are not people off the street.”

Police also found semi-tractors and trailers stolen from companies in Morton that were reportedly used to haul away the cigarettes.

“Three semi-tractors were stolen from Unisource (in Morton). Two of those were recovered,” said Morton Police Chief Nick Graff.

“There was a semi-tractor and a flatbed trailer that were stolen from Mathis Kelley Construction Supply Co. in Morton and recovered.”

Graff added there were two G&D Transportation Inc. trailers recovered at Federal Warehouse Co.

Federal Warehouse Co., a storage and relocation service, had a semi-tractor hot-wired and moved from its bay dock and a semi-tractor stolen.

“There is still a trailer that is not accounted for,” said East Peoria Police Chief Ed Papis.

“All I can say about this whole burglary is, it seems to be a highly coordinated, professional burglary,” Papis said.

Papis added the suspects somehow shut off the alarm system to the building.

The East Peoria Police Department is working with many other law enforcement agencies, both in and out of state, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.

He added they are confident the offenders are an East Coast group involved with similar incidents throughout the country.

“Our understanding is this group has been involved in other high-yield heists,” Papis said.