Assistance from a Chicago Police Department helicopter helped lead to the arrest and charging of three people wanted in connection with a Tuesday (Dec. 20) theft from an Elmhurst department store, according to a news release from DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and Elmhurst Chief of Police Michael McLean.
At approximately 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Elmhurst Police Department officers responded to a report of a theft at Kohl’s, 303 S. Route 83. During their investigation, officers learned that a vehicle matching the description of a car associated with the theft was traveling east on I-290 in Des Plaines.
Officers located the vehicle on I-290 near Cicero Avenue and continued tracking the vehicle until it exited the expressway at Independence Boulevard.
The three defendants were taken into custody in the area of Madison Street and Springfield Avenue without incident. They are Trinetta Wells, 52, of the 4800 block of West Polk Street, Chicago; Sylvester Wells, 50, also of the 4800 block of West Polk Street, Chicago; and Darryl Foster, 56, of the 900 block of South Lorraine Road, Wheaton.
All three defendants were charged with one count of burglary (a Class 2 felony) and one count of retail theft (a Class 3 felony), according to the release.
Trinetta Wells was also charged with one count of possession of another’s debit card (a Class 4 felony). Foster faces an additional count of misdemeanor unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.
Authorities allege that all three defendants entered the Kohl’s and went directly to the coat section and that all three defendants each took one jacket before fleeing the store, all in about three minutes. The news release put the value of the merchandise at $343.50. Allegedly, officers found a crack pipe and a straw containing a white powdery substance in Foster’s pocket.
“This is another example of Elmhurst officers working with Chicago Police,” McLean said in the release, “to track down offenders within minutes of committing a crime and bringing them to justice. I thank the responding Elmhurst detectives, Chicago Police, and DuPage County State’s Attorney Bob Berlin and his office for their assistance on this case.”
The three defendants appeared at a bond hearing Wednesday before Judge Margaret O’Connell, who set bond at $40,000 with 10% to apply for Sylvester Wells, at $20,000 with 10% to apply and recognizance for Trinetta Wells, and at $10,000 with 10% to apply and recognizance for Foster.
The three are to appear next on Jan. 18, before Judge O’Connell.