CHICAGO — On September 23, the last time we wrote a story about Joachim Nwachukwu, the headline was “Judge releases man accused of burglarizing Loop stores 6 times in 2 weeks.”
Yesterday, Chicago police said 33-year-old has committed 12 more robberies and burglaries since being arrested, repeatedly striking the same businesses time after time.
If only someone could have seen this coming.
Last autumn, prosecutors said Nwachukwu burglarized Printer’s Row Wine Shop, 719 South Dearborn, on August 31, September 1, September 5, and September 13. The fifth time he returned, the store’s owner told CWBChicago, she chased him out while wielding a golf club.
He was also accused of burglarizing the 7-Eleven at 48 North Wells on September 7 and September 8, taking bottles of alcoholic beverages each time, sometimes worth hundreds of dollars.
Nwachukwu’s arrest report from September said police found an array of still-packaged merchandise in his bag: two pairs of headphones, five packs of cigarette lighters, a miniature security camera, a car charger, and two backpacks.
On September 19, the second day under Illinois’ new cashless bail system, Judge Mary Marubio released Nwachukwu with instructions to show up in court and stay out of trouble.
Officials say he didn’t do either of those things, claiming he hasn’t shown up for court since November and he started robbing and burglarizing stores again.
Yesterday, prosecutors charged him with six more counts of robbery and six more counts of burglary in connection with crimes he allegedly committed between February 16 and June 1.
In a detention petition, prosecutors said he went behind the counters at 7-Eleven and Circle K stores, taking tobacco and alcohol products while threatening the employees.
He also burglarized the companies’ stores, the petition said, again targeting tobacco and alcoholic goods. All of the incidents were caught on video.
The incidents were included in several community alerts that CPD issued as warnings to businesses. One recent version of the alert listed more than 20 cases that detectives believed were committed by the same person. Nwachukwu is formally charged with 12 of those:
- Cops say he targeted a Circle K at 211 West Adams on February 16, 22, 27, March 24, April 3, April 9, April 17, and May 3.
- He allegedly struck a 7-Eleven at 191 West Adams on February 24 and April 18
- In Lakeview, he allegedly hit another 7-Eleven at 929 West Diversey on May 29 and June 1
Judge Shauna Boliker granted the state’s detention petition, keeping Nwachukwu in jail as a safety threat and flight risk.
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