Elmhurst Police Department officers responded Wednesday afternoon, Aug. 2, to a report of retail theft from Kohl’s, 303 S. Route 83. A witness observed a male suspect and female suspect filling a bag with clothes from the store and putting the stolen items in the back seat of a white BMW sedan. The two suspects then drove away with stolen items valued at approximately $950, according to a release from the city of Elmhurst.
According to city officials, an alert Elmhurst police officer spotted the BMW leaving the area and followed the vehicle as it traveled northbound on Route 83. The officer coordinated with other responding Elmhurst officers and took the two suspects into custody when the BMW pulled into a parking lot at North Avenue and Route 83.
Officers recovered the stolen store merchandise as well as a clothing security device removal tool. Officers also found a backpack in the BMW which contained a loaded Glock 43X semi-automatic 9 mm pistol with an extended ammunition magazine. This handgun was previously reported stolen to the Chicago Police Department.
In consultation with the DuPage County state’s attorney’s office, charges were brought against both individuals involved.
Marquis Q. Henderson, 29, of the 1200 block of West Roosevelt Road, Chicago, was charged with burglary, retail theft — over $300 value and unlawful possession of a weapon by a convicted felon.
Etonia G. Henderson, 20, also of the 1200 block of West Roosevelt Road, Chicago, was charged with burglary, retail theft — over $300 value and possession of an electronic theft detection removal device.
Both offenders were taken to the DuPage County Jail for the felony charges and appeared in DuPage County Circuit Court for bond hearings, according to the city release.
“I wish to commend the responding police officers,” Elmhurst Police Chief Michael McLean said in a statement, commending them “for coordinating the safe apprehension of the offenders and recovering a stolen handgun from the alleged possession of a convicted felon. The Elmhurst Police Department will always protect our community from criminals, and I am relieved we were able to take this stolen handgun off the streets, likely preventing future tragedy. I also wish to thank the DuPage County state’s attorney’s office for their efforts on this case.”
McLean added:
“I thought it was incredibly brazen of these two thieves,” he said. “They went into the store twice. In my opinion, this is a case of organized retail theft.”
Graydon Megan is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
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