Beatriz Villegas, 30, of Chicago, (inset) was arrested following multiple retail thefts committed by a group of three females that occurred at stores inside Gurnee Mills mall in Gurnee on December 20, 2024. | Background Photo: Google Street View; Inset: Provided

Two women and a 10-year-old child allegedly stole over a thousand dollars of products from five different stores during a theft spree at Gurnee Mills mall.

The Gurnee Police Department responded on December 10 to a call of a retail theft in progress at Zumiez inside Gurnee Mills, 6170 West Grand Avenue in Gurnee.

The caller provided a description of three female Hispanic subjects carrying Home Goods bags, according to Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Mary Vukovich.

Officers arrived and detained two females who matched the description at the entrance of Gurnee Mills.

Vukovich said a Zumiez employee was following the subjects and positively identified them as the suspects.

One of the subjects detained was a 10-year-old girl and the second was Beatriz Villegas, 30, of Chicago.

Villegas reported her vehicle was parked and officers went to look for the third suspect but were unable to locate her, Vukovich said.

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Vukovich said Villegas admitted the three went into the mall and stole items before returning to the car to drop off the items and then returning to the mall again to steal more items.

The suspects stole products in the amount of $574 from Spencer’s, $174 from the Lego store, $419 from Gamestop, $35 from VBH Toys Kiosk and an unknown amount from Crocs.

Vukovich said approximately $1,210 in merchandise was stolen in total.

Villegas admitted to stealing the items from the stores with the accomplice, who was the mother of the 10-year-old, Vukovich said.

Villegas was arrested and charged with retail theft and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

She was transported to the Gurnee Police Department where she was released with a notice to appear for a First Appearance Court hearing on January 6.

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Villegas appeared at the initial court hearing and was ordered to have no contact with the stores involved.

Villegas is scheduled to appear in court again on February 4 for a status of preliminary hearing. It is unknown whether the second adult suspect has been charged.