Two Venezuelan illegal alien shoplifters arrested at Oak Brook mall earlier this year. Western Springs has yet to publish photos of the bike thieves it stopped on Sunday, June 10. | Oak Brook Police
Two Venezuelan illegal alien shoplifters arrested at Oak Brook mall earlier this year. Western Springs has yet to publish photos of the bike thieves it stopped on Sunday, June 10. | Oak Brook Police
Western Springs police caught a group of "at least 12" Venezuelan illegal aliens casing village streets on Sunday afternoon, stealing bicycles, sources tell West Cook News.
The illegal aliens stole a bike parked in front of a gym at the corner of Central Avenue and Hillgrove Avenue, then walked to the Western Springs Pool, 1300 Hillgrove Avenue, where they were checking children's bikes to see if they were locked.
Police confronted the group near Central and Hillgrove, sources say, and retrieved the stolen bike, which was returned to its owner.
None of the Venezuelans had identification and none of them spoke English. Western Springs police called La Grange police to assist with translation.
Sources present said police told them weren't going to bother arresting or charging the illegal aliens "because they have no way of verifying who they actually are, and they wouldn't show up for court, anyway."
Police put the illegal aliens, who were described as "well dressed," on a Metra train heading east, towards Chicago.
Western Springs Police told West Cook News that an incident report, including photos of the illegal aliens would be approved for public release in the next 2-3 days.
Oak Brook police have arrested more than 90 illegal alien shoplifters, primarily Venezuelan, at Oak Brook Center since Jan. 2023, according to a May DuPage Policy Journal report.
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