Theft suspect arrested after Gladstone Park resident conducts his own sting operation

by BRIAN NADIG

A Gladstone Park homeowner helped police arrest a theft suspect after the resident set up his own sting operation, luring the suspect back to to his home by leaving a fake package on the porch, according to 16th (Jefferson Park) District police.

The homeowner reported that a surveillance system at his home captured footage of someone stealing a delivery package containing school supplies from the porch on Wednesday, Dec. 12, in the 5400 block of North Monitor Avenue, according to police.

A couple of days later the resident left a fake package on the porch and when the suspect reportedly returned to take the package, he followed her back to her nearby home and later contacted police, according to police.

A subsequent investigation by tactical officers led to the arrest of the suspect, who was identified as a 16-year-old female, at her school on Thursday, Dec. 20, police said.

The district recommends that residents consider having packages shipped to a neighbor’s house when they are out of town or to an Amazon locker, which are available at various businesses in the Chicago area.