Illinois Police Finally Bust Serial Lottery Ticket Thief

Some thieves concentrate on stealing certain items and this Illinois criminal's specialty was taking lottery tickets.

Illinois Police Arrest Thief For Stealing Lottery Tickets

I guess I just don't have what it takes to be a thief. I would feel bad stealing valuables from other people. Plus, I don't want to get arrested and go to jail. If I ever decide to break the law, it better be worth the risk. Honestly, I don't think it is.

READ MORE: Illinois Police Finally Arrest Serial Cemetery Thief

Many thieves have a specialty. Maybe they steal cars or con people out of money. There is a criminal in Wheaton who Illinois police finally caught up with to arrest. He takes lottery tickets from convenience stores.

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He would go into the stores and try to befriend the clerk on duty. When the employee gets comfortable with the suspect, they would leave him alone in front by the cash register. At that point, the thief would grab a bunch of lottery tickets off the display and then take off.

The suspect pulled off this scam many times including at convenience stores in Elmhurst, Addison, Winfield, Carol Stream, Hanover Park, Oakbrook Terrace, and Lombard. He was arrested at a motel in Villa Park.

Here's my question, how do the police know what to charge him with because the lottery tickets could be worth nothing or a huge jackpot? Do the cops have to scratch off the tickets to find out how much he would've won?

Patch

I guess there's even a category for this type of crime. The local police charged him with felonies of continuing financial crimes enterprise, burglary, and retail theft. Definitely, not worth the risk. There's a good chance every time he ends up with nothing.