Investigators have recovered over $600,000 worth of dog food and treats at a liquidation store in Gurnee after the products were stolen from semi-trailers.
The Tri-County Auto Theft Task Force (TCAT) said Wednesday they have recovered approximately $750,000 worth of stolen property following a multi-agency investigation that began with the theft of two semi-trailers from a warehouse in Joliet.
The Joliet Police Department responded on June 30Â to reports of two stolen semi-trailers from a facility in the 4100 block of Rock Creek Boulevard.
It was later learned that both trailers had been loaded with pallets of dog food and treats, valued at a combined $615,000, according to TCATÂ Director Zach Johnston.
The trailers were later recovered after being abandoned but their contents were stolen.
Johnston said TCAT secured a search warrant for Dan’s Deals and Liquidation Store, 3545 Grand Avenue in Gurnee.
TCAT and the Gurnee Police Department executed the warrant at the store on Sunday.
A search of the premises led to the recovery of more than 95% of the stolen dog food and treats, Johnston said.
Additional stolen property was also discovered and turned over to the police agencies handling those investigations.
Agents also recovered a stolen semi-trailer in the parking lot of the store.
Johnston said the trailer was found to contain stolen cargo from a separate theft reported to the Will County Sheriff’s Office earlier that same day.
The total amount of the recovered stolen property has an estimated retail value of $750,000.
Dan’s Deals and Liquidation Store is a liquidation store that sells overstock items from big box retail stores, according to the business, which said its location at 3545 Grand Avenue had just recently opened.
The case remains an ongoing investigation and further recoveries are anticipated with arrests pending.
“The Tri-County Auto Theft Task Force extends its sincere appreciation to the Joliet Police Department, Gurnee Police Department, Will County State’s Attorney James W. Glasgow’s Office, and the Travelers Insurance Special Investigations Group for their collaboration and assistance in this case,” Johnston said.
TCAT operates in Will, Grundy and Kankakee counties and is comprised of police officers from a number of police departments operating in the three-county area.
Anyone with information related to the thefts is asked to call TCAT at 815-724-4677 or email them at [email protected].