Three Venezuelan migrants living in Waukegan have been arrested after prosecutors say they stole merchandise from a Kohl’s store in DuPage County on Black Friday.
Ilys Mary Ledesma Zapata, 37, Christian Johan Saavedra-Omona, 21, and Braud Pineda Avendano, 33, all of Venezuela, were charged with burglary, a Class 2 felony, and retail theft, a Class 3 felony.
The DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office said the Elmhurst Police Department responded to Kohl’s, 303 South Route 83, around 1 p.m. Friday for a retail theft.
Three suspects, later identified as Ledesma Zapata, Saavedra-Omona and Pineda Avendano, entered Kohl’s and took multiple items of clothing, prosecutors said.
Ledesma Zapata, Saavedra-Omona and Pineda Avendano left the store with the merchandise and never paid for it, prosecutors said.
Prosecutors said the trio, who are currently living in Waukegan, re-entered the store and again selected multiple items of clothing before leaving without paying.
Officers responding to the call arrested the suspects after they left the store the second time.
The total value of the stolen items was approximately $504. Prosecutors said Ledesma Zapata was in possession of a large magnet used to defeat anti-theft devices in stores.
The trio appeared in first appearance court Saturday morning where DuPage County Judge Anthony Coco denied prosecutors’ request to detain the suspects pending trial.
Prosecutors alleged they were a willful flight risk. The judge released them and ordered they have no contact with the Kohl’s in Elmhurst.
“It is alleged that on Black Friday, the busiest shopping day of the year, these three defendants, one of whom brought an anti-theft device with her, entered the Kohl’s store, helped themselves to more than five-hundred dollars’ worth of merchandise and then left the store without paying,” DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin said.
“With the hustle and bustle of the holiday shopping season now upon us, I ask everyone to please help us combat theft and if you see something suspicious, please alert store authorities,” Berlin said.
Ledesma Zapata, Saavedra-Omona and Pineda Avendano are scheduled to appear in court for an arraignment hearing on December 18.