Police have arrested a Chicago man after they say he stole $50,000 worth of jewelry from a Gurnee jewelry store in December.
Demond Reid, 43, of Chicago, was charged with theft over $10,000, a Class 2 felony. He appeared in bond court Friday afternoon where his bond was set at $75,000.
The Gurnee Police Department responded around 10:55 a.m. December 30 to Helzberg Diamonds, 6557 Grand Avenue, for a report of a retail theft.
Gurnee Police Department Public Information Officer Shawn Gaylor said that a male subject, later identified as Reid, entered the store and requested to see jewelry from the display case.
The man took the merchandise, estimated to be worth $50,000, and ran from the store during the consultation with a sales associate, Gaylor said. The man did not make any threats to the employees and there were no signs of a weapon.
Officers responded to the area and set up a perimeter while a Lake County Sheriff’s Office canine unit responded to assist with tracking the suspect. Police ultimately determined that the suspect left in a vehicle, Gaylor said.
Gaylor said on Friday that social media tips led to Reid’s identification and Gurnee police worked with several police agencies to locate the man, who was taken into custody on Thursday by the Cook County Sheriff’s Office.
“This case is a great example of how our officers and community members can create great partnerships to solve crime,” Gurnee Police Chief Brian Smith said.
“The connections and interactions we made with citizens through social media have allowed us to utilize this resource and promote the safety of the entire community. We encourage citizens to participate in the process by calling the police at the onset of suspicious activity and taking responsibility for reporting information that may lead to an arrest,” Smith added.