A Chicago man has been charged with committing numerous thefts at stores in Deerfield and other parts of the Chicago area where he is accused of stealing thousands of dollars worth of alcohol.
The Deerfield Police Department investigated retail thefts that occurred on April 22 and June 6 at Jewel Osco, 16 South Waukegan Road.
25 bottles of alcohol, totaling over $1,000, were stolen in the April 22 incident by two suspects, according to a police report.
20 bottles of tequila, totaling $695, were stolen in the June 6 incident by one suspect.
The department also investigated a retail theft that occurred on June 27 at Whole Foods, 760 Waukegan Road.
In that incident, a suspect entered the store, took numerous liquor bottles worth hundreds of dollars, put them in a roller bag and quickly exited the store, a police report said.
The suspect claimed he worked for Walgreens when he was stopped and asked to provide a receipt, which he refused and fled.
Detectives identified Christopher D. Lawson, 37, of Chicago, as the suspect in the three incidents. The second suspect in the April 22 incident was also identified.
Lawson was suspected to have committed additional retail thefts of liquor at Jewel-Osco stores in Glenview and Gurnee, the police report said.
The report said investigators learned during the months of investigation that Lawson was also connected to retail thefts at stores in Elmhurst, Rolling Meadows, Hoffman Estates, Des Plaines and Arlington Heights.
Lawson was charged in two felony retail theft cases in Lake County, one in Gurnee and the other in Deerfield, as well as multiple retail theft cases in Cook County.
Last month, Lawson was processed and served on some of the warrants.
He was initially being held in the Cook County Jail but was released and transported to the Lake County Jail where he was released following a First Appearance Court hearing.
Lawson is scheduled to appear in Lake County Circuit Court again on December 17 for a status of preliminary hearing.