A pair of recent attempted thefts at the downtown Lake Forest Lululemon store has led to the arrests of six out-of-state individuals, police said.
Police arrested the six people after two separate incidents at the Lululemon located in Lake Forest’s Market Square shopping center which has been a target of thieves for the last several months, authorities said.
On Oct. 5, officers responded to a call of a theft in progress as two suspects left the store with merchandise, noticed an officer, and went back inside the store, police said.
Officers arrested Heaven S. Hutchinson, 25 of Pensacola, Florida, and Kylinda C. Jackson, 24 of Atlanta, Georgia. They were both charged with misdemeanor retail theft after they had allegedly tried to steal over $1,500 in merchandise, police said.
They were both released, but their next court date information was not available.
Two days later on Oct. 7, police arrested four individuals after receiving a call from store employees of a theft in progress.
Romero R. Velcu, 18, and Rebeca Velcu, 26 both of Gwynn Oak, Maryland, Crina Dunca, 32, of Orlando, Florida, and Stefan Florinel, 26 were all charged with retail theft along with other charges as officers discovered nearly $5,000 in merchandise, police said.
Rebeca Velcu was held in custody due to another warrant in another state, according to the Lake County State’s Attorney’s office. Her next court date was set for Oct. 16.
Court date information was not available for the other three suspects.
“I’m grateful for the dedication and professionalism of our officers in swiftly apprehending the suspects in these retail thefts,” Police Chief John Burke said in a statement. “These actions reflect our department’s commitment to keeping Lake Forest safe.”
Burke later said none of the suspects had any direct connections to Lake Forest.
These incidents are the latest in a string of crimes occurring at the Lululemon with Burke noting there have been six separate thefts going back to last May in addition to burglary in September when a window was pried open.
Burke said he does not believe there is any connection between the October theft attempts and the previous incidents.
Daniel I. Dorfman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
