Retail Thefts, Car Burglary: New Lenox Police Reports

The following information is from the New Lenox Police Department. An arrest or charge is not an indication of guilt.

Sept. 8

• Rose Barber, 64, of Joliet, was charged with retail theft at 7:30 a.m. at Walmart, 501 E. Lincoln Highway. According to the police report, Barber stole over $280 worth of merchandise from the store.
• Brian Stotts, 47, of New Lenox, was charged with retail theft, fleeing and eluding, and driving while license suspended at 3:17 p.m. at Walmart, 501 E. Lincoln Highway. According to the police report, Stotts fled the store after stealing Pokemon and Magic The Gathering playing cards. A description of the offender and car was given to police, and police located the vehicle and attempted a traffic stop. The car did not stop and fled speeding from the officer while committing several traffic violations. The car was later located at Jewel on Laraway Road, and Stotts was taken into custody. Over $450 worth of stolen Walmart items were found in his car. Stotts also had an outstanding warrant for larceny from Bloomingdale Police and shoplifting from DuPage County.

Sept. 10

• Someone entered two unlocked cars in the 2000 block of Rownham Hill Road. Nothing appeared to have been stolen.
• Someone entered an unlocked car on Gear Drive and stole a wallet containing cash and credit cards.

Sept. 11

• Someone stole cash and credit cards from a purse at the Presence Healing & Arts Pavilion, 410 E. Lincoln Highway.

Sept. 12

• Someone drove a vehicle into a multi-unit mailbox in the 1900 block of Foxwood Drive.
• A woman stole a TV and alcohol from Target, 2370 E. Lincoln Highway, at 6:20 p.m. The loss was over $330.
• Mark Wiecek, 45, of Manhattan, was charged with retail theft at 7:36 p.m. at Walmart, 501 E. Lincoln Highway. According to the police report, Wiecek stole $68 worth of merchandise from the store.

Sept. 13

• Gus Landeroz Jr., 34, of New Lenox, was charged with battery at 7:24 p.m. in the 600 block of Sandpiper Drive. According to the police report, Landeroz punched the victim in the face during a verbal argument. The victim did not require medical attention.
• Robert Crundwell, 225, of New Lenox, was taken into custody after police learned he had two outstanding warrants. The warrants were from Kankakee County for domestic battery and criminal sexual assault.
• Brandon Ratliff, 30, of Munster, Indiana, was charged with unlawful use of weapon at 11:33 p.m. at Lincoln Highway and Vine Street. According to the police report, the officer conducted a traffic stop for an equipment violation. The officer then learned that Ratliff was in possession of a firearm, which was loaded and immediately accessible. Ratliff did not have an Illinois Concealed Carry License.