Crime & Safety

Movie-Loving Shoplifter Flees Store With 27 DVDs, Cops Say

Chicago Ridge man charged with felony retail theft and battery after he shoved a loss prevention officer at the Oak Lawn Kmart store, police say.

A man who packed a plastic storage bin with 27 DVDs and ran out of a big box store was charged with felony retail theft, reports said.

Oak Lawn police responded to Kmart at 4101 W. 95th St. to pick up a man identified as Joe W. Pursley, 28, of Chicago Ridge, after a store loss prevention officer chased him down in the parking lot.

Pursley was spotted by security entering the store around 5:40 p.m. Sept. 21 and looking up at the ceiling toward security cameras, police said.

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After removing a plastic storage bin from a shelf, police said that Pursley proceeded to the electronics department, where a loss prevention officer observed him filling the bin with DVD movies.

Pursley walked to the front of the store where he set the bin on the floor, reports said. He glanced around, picked up the bin and allegedly ran out of the store past the cash registers.

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When the loss prevention officer identified himself to Pursley outside, police said he shoved the employee and ran through the parking lot.

The loss prevention officer was able to catch Pursley with the DVDs and brought him back inside the store, reports said.

Oak Lawn police reviewed store security video and saw Pursley allegedly filling the bin with stolen merchandise and running out of the store.

He was taken into custody and brought to the Oak Lawn police station. Asked he had taken the DVDs, Pursley reportedly responded, “You got me. I’d rather not say anything without my attorney.”

The Cook County assistant state’s attorney approved a charge of felony retail theft. Pursley was also charged with battery. He was held pending a bond hearing.

The 27 DVDs were valued at $949.


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