One incident alleges theft of more than $10,000 including items placed in suitcases also stolen from the store
DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and Oak Brook Chief of Police Brian Strockis announced today that charges have been filed against six individuals accused of stealing merchandise from the Oak Brook Macy’s store in two unrelated incidents. Nicolas Paillacan-Bravo, 20 (2/14/2003) and David Saez-Vega, 34 (d.o.b. 12/16/1989), both of Chile currently staying in Chicago, appeared at First Appearance Court this morning where Judge Joshua Dieden denied the State’s motion to detain the defendants pre-trial. In an unrelated incident, Elvis Rodriguez-Rubio, 28 (d.o.b. 8/26/1995), Gabriela Salzar-Vasquez, 30 (1/17/1994), Victor Sevilla-Arteaga, 33 (d.o.b. 7/15/1990) and Danielis Vasquez-Arteaga, 27 (d.o.b. 7/28/1996) all of Venezuela currently staying in Countryside, also appeared at First Appearance Court this morning where Judge Joshua Dieden denied the State’s motion to detain the defendants pre-trial. All six defendants are charged with one count of Burglary (Class 2 Felony) and one count of Retail Theft (Class 3 Felony).
On January 23, 2024, at approximately 6:28 p.m., Oak Brook police officers responded to a call of a retail theft at the Macy’s department store located at 1 Oakbrook Center. Following an investigation, it is alleged that Paillacan-Bravo and Saez Vega entered Macy’s and began removing anti-theft devices from merchandise with a magnet they brought with them. It is further alleged that the duo then placed fifty-four items worth approximately $10,155.49 into two suitcases they obtained from the luggage department. It is alleged that the pair then left the store without paying for the items where they were met by officers with the Oak Brook Police Department. Earlier the same day, at approximately 1:45 p.m., Oak Brook police officers responded to a prior call of a retail theft at Macy’s. Following an investigation, it is alleged that Rodriguez-Rubio, Salzar-Vasquez, Sevilla-Arteaga and Vasquez-Arteaga entered Macy’s and went to the Tommy Hilfiger section where Vasquez-Arteaga and Salazar-Vasquez selected merchandise and then took the merchandise to the second floor. It is alleged that the two females then selected shoes and entered a fitting room. It is further alleged that the women exited the fitting room wearing the merchandise and the four defendants exited the store without paying for the items. It is alleged that when the defendants exited the store wearing the merchandise, which totaled approximately $927.99, they were met by a loss prevention officer.
“I want to assure the public that in DuPage County we are one hundred percent committed to protecting our retail establishments, their employees and patrons,” Berlin said. “The arrest and prosecution of these six defendants once again sends the clear message that if people continue to steal, my office will continue to use every tool at our disposal to hold them accountable. Contrary to popular belief, retail theft is not a victimless crime, causing significant financial hardship to businesses and their employees which results in higher prices for shoppers and loss of investment and tax revenue for entire communities. I commend the Oak Brook Police Department for their work apprehending the defendants in these cases, as well as for their ongoing efforts in protecting our residents and businesses alike. I also thank Assistant State’s Attorneys Alexandria Levan, Michael Pingaj and Andrew Poncer for their work in securing charges against these six defendants.”
“I believe that six felony arrests in one day illustrates that migrant criminal activity is a real problem,” Strockis said. “The amount of these types of arrests that we have had in the last couple of months is significant and would be taxing for any police department. We are well prepared to continue our enforcement efforts and I can assure you that there are easier places to commit these crimes than Oak Brook or DuPage County. I want to thank our officers and Macy’s Loss Prevention agents for their vigilance in protecting our community. I also want to thank State’s Attorney Bob Berlin and his office for their continued assistance and guidance on these cases.”
Members of the public are reminded that this complaint contains only charges and is not proof of the defendants’ guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and are entitled to a fair trial in which it is the government’s burden to prove their guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
