A pair from Chicago “forced” 4 youngsters to assist them steal almost $1,000 in merchandise from a suburban Macy’s retailer that has been an ongoing goal of retail theft this vacation season, authorities mentioned Wednesday.
Angelo Almaraz, 26, of Chicago, and his 32-year-old home accomplice Thalia Morales, of Hammond, Indiana, went to the youngsters’s part of the Macy’s in Oak Brook with 4 younger youngsters, ranging in ages from toddler to 13 years outdated, on Monday night, the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office mentioned. Three of the youngsters belonged to Almaraz and Morales.
The couple allegedly used the eldest two youngsters to choose gadgets off the racks. The kids then handed the merchandise to Almaraz and Morales, who stashed them in Nordstrom Rack luggage they introduced with them, in keeping with prosecutors.
“The allegations that two grown adults enlisted the help of children as they stole nearly one thousand dollars’ worth of merchandise are extremely disturbing,” DuPage County State’s Lawyer Robert Berlin mentioned.
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Angelo Almaraz, 26, of Chicago, is charged with one depend every of housebreaking and retail theft. (DuPage County State’s Lawyer’s Workplace )
The group ran from a loss prevention officer, who noticed them as they have been leaving the shop with the bag of stolen merchandise, earlier than they fled in a automobile, officers mentioned.
Thalia Morales, 32, of Hammond, Indiana, was additionally going through one depend every of housebreaking and retail theft. (DuPage County State’s Lawyer’s Workplace )
An Oak Brook police officer responded to the realm and pulled over the suspects’ car because it was making an attempt to show onto Route 83. Authorities mentioned the officer discovered $962 in stolen merchandise contained in the bag and took the couple into custody.
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“In this case, it is heartbreaking to have adults force young children into criminal activity,” Oak Brook Deputy Chief of Police Reid Foltyniewicz mentioned.
Almaraz and Morales have been each charged with one depend every of housebreaking and retail theft. The couple was launched after a decide denied the prosecutors’ movement to detain them each pre-trial.
The Oak Brook Macy’s has been an ongoing goal of retail theft, with authorities warning locals and retailers to stay vigilant in the course of the busy vacation buying season.
