Three New Jersey men were being held overnight Tuesday in the Prospect Heights lockup after police discovered nearly $50,000 in stolen clothing that was allegedly being prepared for shipment to the East Coast for resale on the black market.
The three men, all in their 20s, are suspected of being part of a large theft ring based in the New York-New Jersey area that targeted brand-name retail shops in the Chicago area and throughout the Midwest, according to Prospect Heights Detective Sgt. Al Steffen.
None of the men had been charged as of late Tuesday, though each could face a number of felony theft counts.
Police said they were tipped to the stash of merchandise early Monday. The men were arrested outside a local motel later that day after an officer stopped their van on a traffic violation and allegedly spotted the loot and a number of suitcases inside.
Police then searched the men’s motel room, where they allegedly found other items tying the men to the theft, including store bags and hangers. Investigators also discovered a set of plane tickets showing the men were set to fly that day to Newark.
Police said much of the stolen merchandise came from malls throughout the north and northwest suburbs and from such stores as The Gap, Banana Republic, The Limited, Structure and Eddie Bauer. About $45,000 worth of clothing still had store tags attached.
Steffen said some items were found with security devices attached to the clothing, but the suspects apparently stashed those goods in special bags designed to fool store detectors.