 |
| L to R: Foster, Oliver, and Walker (Chicago Police Department) |
Three people have been charged in connection with a Sunday evening theft spree near the Belmont Red Line, Chicago police said.
Several shops reported thefts along Belmont between Clark and the CTA station shortly before 8 o’clock, including Belmont Army, Egor’s Dungeon, and Taboo Tabou. The Starbucks at 3184 N. Clark Street reported its tip jar stolen.
Police were not able to immediately confirm reports that retail shops on Halsted Street had also been hit.
20-year-old Aaliyah Foster and 21-year-old Deavin S. Oliver, of the same address in the 8200 block of S. Richmond and 19-year-old Ratero Walker of Dolton are each charged with one count of retail theft exceeding $300.
Foster is also being held on a warrant.
Passing patrol officers took one of the suspects into custody after being flagged down at the Belmont station. A CTA canine unit detained two others on the platform, police said. Other suspects are believed to have escaped on a southbound train before police arrived.
Taboo Tabou owner Mark Thomas tells DNAInfo Chicago that unidentified shoplifters threatened one of his employees as they exited the store with more than $500 worth of merchandise.
“If we had foot officers on Belmont, this kind of thing would be much less likely to happen,” Thomas said Sunday night.
[…]
“…It has to do with a lack of manpower, but it also has to do with the fact that we’re not recognizing that the single hottest spot [for crime] in Lakeview is on Belmont by the ‘L’ station,” said Thomas, who ran for alderman of the 44th ward against Ald. Tom Tunney last year.
