Illegal Migrant Juveniles Face Charges for Mall Incidents in Oakbrook Center
Five illegal migrants, all juveniles, are facing a mix of burglary and robbery charges for two separate incidents that occurred at the Oakbrook Center shopping mall on Monday, according to officials. Judge Chantelle Porter has ordered three of them to be detained.
Chief of Police Brian Strockis emphasized the importance of obeying the law in the Oak Brook community, stating, âWhile the mall and the entire Oak Brook community is extremely welcoming, it is welcoming only to those who obey the law.”
One incident occurred at the Nordstrom store in the mall around 3 p.m., where three of the juveniles were arrested after store employees reported that they had worked together to steal items. The juveniles engaged in a coordinated effort, with one entering a fitting room while the other two brought clothing items to them, as reported by the DuPage County Stateâs Attorneyâs Office.
Following the theft of merchandise valued at $138, a loss prevention officer confronted the juveniles as they attempted to leave the store. The juveniles resisted and one of them even resorted to violence by throwing a punch. After a brief foot chase, Oak Brook Police Department officers were able to apprehend all three suspects.
All three juveniles are facing felony charges of burglary and robbery, as well as misdemeanor counts of resisting police and retail theft.
In a separate incident less than 45 minutes later, Oak Brook officers responded to a retail theft at the mallâs Macyâs location. Two juveniles were caught cutting off security sensors from six clothing items worth over $300 in a dressing room. One of the juveniles was found to be carrying a 13-inch kitchen knife with an 8-inch blade concealed in his waistband.
The pair are both charged with felony retail theft, with one of them facing an additional charge of armed violence for carrying a weapon and narcotics simultaneously.
Chief Strockis expressed concern over the use of a weapon in one of the incidents, stating, âI find particularly troubling is the allegation that in one of the incidents, one of the accused armed himself with a thirteen-inch knife. Thankfully, no one was injured and all five of the juveniles were safely taken into custody.”
Describing the juveniles as âillegal migrantsâ with criminal intentions, Chief Strockis commended the police response that led to their arrest and emphasized the importance of ensuring justice is served.
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