Two suspects were arrested and authorities say they were responsible for stealing over $20,000 worth of merchandise during a multi-day crime spree at Gurnee Mills mall in Gurnee.
Tertiece S. Stevens, 35, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was charged with three counts of burglary, three counts of retail theft and three counts of theft.
Deondra D. Jones, 41, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was charged with three counts of retail theft and one count of burglary.
Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Hillary Price Cohen said detectives with the Gurnee Police Department were briefed on December 6 on an incident that occurred at Off Broadway Shoes in Gurnee Mills mall.
Jones and Stevens had exited the store with items they had not purchased.
Surveillance video showed them exiting the store at 6:45 p.m. Stores in the mall were alerted to the two suspects and were told to call police if they spotted them.
In addition to Off Broadway Shoes, Jones and Stevens were alleged to have committed retail thefts at Bass Pro Shops, Sunglass Hut, Dinos Sporting Goods, Champs, Zumiez, Nike, Ralph Lauren Polo and the Adidas store inside the mall, Price Cohen said.
Jones was eventually taken into custody and interviewed by investigators. He said he has a drug addiction and steals to pay for his drugs.
He said he considers this a “profession” and that Steven was his business partner, Price Cohen said.
Surveillance photos captured Jones at Gurnee Mills on October 8, October 18, October 31, November 5, November 16, November 17, November 25, November 28 and December 6.
Jones confirmed himself in the photos and said he sells the stolen goods in person in Milwaukee and only takes cash or trades for products, Price Cohen said. He had wire cutters on his person and admitted to using them while stealing.
Jones told detectives certain items sell better than others. Jones also said that he and Stevens communicate by phone call often to coordinate their activities, Price Cohen said.
Jones is usually seen carrying empty Vans bags and he said that he likes to purchase items for the bags and then return them, Price Cohen said.
During the interview, Jones identified products that he stole from property that was seized, including Timberland shoes he was wearing.
Price Cohen said Jones stole six pairs of sunglasses by placing them into a bag and leaving the Sunglass Hut on October 18, causing alarms to go off. The value was $1,500.
He also stole an additional seven pairs of sunglasses from the store on October 31, Price Cohen said. The value of the merchandise was $1,995.
Jones, on the same day, walked in Bass Pro Shops and stole a shirt by changing into it and leaving the store. Jones also stole numerous apparel items from Ralph Lauren Polo that day, leading to a loss of more than $3,000.
Jones went to the Bass Pro Shops on November 5 and stole multiple apparel items by changing into the clothing and also placing additional goods into his Vans bag before leaving the store with the $3,166 in products, Price Cohen said.
Jones and Stevens walked into Bass Pro Shops on November 16.
Jones changed into clothing and was seen on camera stuffing apparel into his bags before leaving. The two stole $3,199 in merchandise on that day, according to Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Michael Theis.
The same scenario played out on November 17 where the two placed products into a bag and left with $369 in merchandise, Price Cohen said.
Theis said Stevens admitted to stealing and helping Jones place clothes in the bags during the retail theft at Off Broadway Shoes on December 6.
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office filed petitions to detain both Stevens and Jones pending trial on the basis that they pose a flight risk. Both were granted during detention hearings.
“This defendant [Jones] is stealing thousands of dollars from Gurnee Mills Mall. This is his profession. From his own admission he is a drug addict and has mental health issues. He freely and brazenly admits it,” Price Cohen said.
Theis said Jones and Stevens had come to Gurnee Mills on at least eight separate days and committed retail thefts from numerous stores with over $20,000 in merchandise stolen.
“The officer stated they two only come down to commit the retail thefts and then flee back to Wisconsin. This defendant [Stevens] has had an active warrant in Wisconsin for the last four years. There is a high likelihood that if this defendant were released she would flee to Wisconsin and not return for court,” Theis said.
Both remain held in the Lake County Jail. Court records show Jones on Friday reached a negotiated plea deal with the state’s attorney’s office.
He pleaded guilty to three counts of retail theft, a Class 3 felony, in exchange for a three-year prison sentence and was ordered to pay restitution for the stolen goods.
The case against Stevens remains pending and she is scheduled to appear in court again on January 20 for a case management conference.