Pair Pilfers 30 Packages From Lake Forest Apartment Building

LAKE FOREST, IL — Police are searching for a couple caught on camera stealing more than two dozen packages from a Lake Forest condominium building last week.

The masked pair got into the mail room of a building near Western Avenue and Laurel Place shortly before 4:30 a.m. Sunday and spent more than a half-hour inside, police said.

Investigators are unsure if the door was locked, but it appears the thieves may have had a key to the area where deliveries are left, according to Deputy Chief Rob Copeland.

"It could be a former resident, it could friends of a resident," Copeland said. "It's hard to tell."

Security video released Tuesday shows two hooded figures gather and stack up packages. Police said they made off with 30 pieces of mail from the building.

At one point, the male thief — seen wearing a black hoodie, blue patterned mask, red beanie, jeans and and white shoes — steps outside and appears to check if the coast is clear.

He can also be seen attempting to use a prying tool to open a mailbox, although Copeland said he was ultimately unsuccessful.

The woman is wearing a gray hoodie, white patterned mask, black beanie, gray paints, and a black jacket and sling bag.

The two thieves loaded up the packages left in a small to midsize Japanese car, possibly a Nissan or Infiniti model. The theft was reported later Sunday morning, police said.

It is not known whether the thieves, who came prepared with a dolly to roll away their loot, are responsible for other similar crimes in the area.

"They may have been shopping for a while," Copeland said.