Alleged Shoplifter Tries to Run Away from the Police: Blotter

Retail Theft Charge After Traffic Stop

Lesa Demps, 46, of the first block of West 21st Street, Chicago Heights, was charged with retail theft, according to a police report. She is accused of taking $429.36 in goods from Kohl's, 17620 Halsted St. Police stopped her car near the intersection of 183rd Street and Halsted Avenue after receiving a description of a suspect in a retail theft. Officers allegedly found clothing from Kohl's in the truck of the car. Demps, the driver of the car, was arrested and booked, pending an appearance in Markham court.

Resisting Police And Retail Theft

Larry Pickett, 27, of the 400 block of Brown Creek Church Road, Wadesboro, NC, was charged with retail theft and resisting police, according to a report. He is accused of placing two pieces of clothing and a bottle of Ciroc vodka into a backpack at Kmart, 17550 Halsted St., and leaving without paying. Homewood police were called to the store and, after arriving, noticed someone matching the description of the suspect running away. Police caught him a short time later. Pickett was arrested and held for a bond hearing on June 27 in Markham court. The total value of the items in the theft is $59.77.

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Police report information is provided by the Homewood Police Department and other law enforcement agencies. Charges are not evidence of guilt. They are a record of police actions on a given day, and persons charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court. If you or a family member are charged or cited and the case is subsequently adjudicated, we encourage you to notify the editor. We will verify and report the outcome.