(WBBM NEWSRADIO) – Two men tried to steal more than $10,000 in merchandise by stuffing dozens of items inside suitcases at a department store but were arrested by police, authorities in DuPage County said.
It was one of two unrelated incidents Tuesday in which migrants staying in the Chicago area tried to shoplift merchandise from Macy’s in Oak Brook, officials said.
“Six felony arrests in one day illustrates that migrant criminal activity is a real problem,” Oak Brook Police Chief Brian Strockis said in a news release Wednesday. “The amount of these types of arrests that we have had in the last couple of months is significant and would be taxing for any police department.”
Nicolas Paillacan-Bravo, 20, and 34-year-old David Saez-Vega – both Chileans staying in Chicago -- entered Macy’s and allegedly began removing anti-theft devices with a magnet. They placed 54 items worth a combined $10,155.49 into two suitcases they obtained in the store’s luggage department, prosecutors said.
When they left the store, Oak Brook police officers were waiting for them. Both Paillacan-Bravo and Saez-Vega were charged with burglary and retail theft and were released after a court hearing Wednesday, officials said.
Authorities also confronted four Venezuelan adults earlier Tuesday after they allegedly tried to steal nearly $1,000 in clothing from Macy’s.
All of these defendants, who are staying in Countryside, were released on charges of burglary and retail theft after a court hearing Wednesday, officials said.
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