Four Chicago residents were arrested Wednesday, Aug. 21 in separate burglary incidents at two Oakbrook Center department stores.
Talia Martinez-Pacheco, 23, of the 1500 block of North Keating Avenue, Santiago Rojas-Galea, 18, of the 800 block of North Homan Avenue, Cheryl Gryer, 26, of the 6400 block of South Sangamon Avenue, and Daiveon Watson, 21, of the 100 block of North Hamlin Avenue, each were charged with one count of burglary (Class 2 Felony) and one count of retail theft (Class 3 Felony).
The office of DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin reported that at about 6:30 p.m. Aug. 21, Martinez-Pacheco and Rojas-Galea entered the Macy’s department store, 1 Oakbrook Center, and reportedly took numerous items of clothing, with a total price of $2,378.87 and exited the store without paying for the merchandise.
In a separate incident, at about 6 p.m. the same day, Gryer and Watson reportedly took numerous clothing items, with a total price of $834.74, at Nordstrom, 10 Oakbrook Center and exited the store without paying for the merchandise, according to Berlin’s office.
All four defendants were taken into custody without incident following an investigation into the reported incidents, Berlin’s office said.
“As evidenced by these recent arrests, law enforcement in DuPage County remains on the lookout for anyone who would attempt to steal from any of our retail establishments,” Berlin said in a statement.
If found guilty, the four defendants will face a possible prison sentence of up to seven years in the Illinois Department of Corrections, Berlin said.
Oak Brook Police Chief Brian Strockis said in a statement that these two cases exemplify the Oak Brook Police Department’s commitment to keeping the community safe.
“It also shows how strong our partnership with loss prevention continues to be,” Strockis said.
The next court date for Martinez-Pacheco and Rojas-Galea is scheduled for Sept. 16, for arraignment in front of Judge Mia McPherson. The next court date for Gryer and Watson is scheduled for Sept. 9, for arraignment in front of Judge Ann Celine O’Hallaren Walsh.
Chuck Fieldman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.