DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and Oak Brook Deputy Chief of Police Mark King announced today that charges have been filed against two men for allegedly stealing more than $1,700 worth of merchandise from the Oak Brook Macy’s store. Abel Barrios-Estava (d.o.b. 7/21/2003) and Rafael Mata-Torres (d.o.b. 1/14/1998), both of Venezuela currently staying in Chicago, appeared at First Appearance Court this morning charged with one count of Burglary (Class 2 Felony) and one count of Retail Theft (Class 3 Felony).
It is alleged that on October 23, 2023, at approximately 5:27 p.m., officers with the Oak Brook Police Department responded to Macy’s, located at 1 Oakbrook Center, regarding a retail theft in progress. It is alleged that one of the defendants, later identified as Abel Barrios-Estava, entered Macy’s and selected six items of clothing with a value of in excess of $300 and then exited the store without paying for the items. It is further alleged that as loss prevention authorities took Barrios-Estava into custody, he broke away and fled on foot across 22nd Street. Following a brief foot pursuit, police officers took him into custody without further incident. It is further alleged that another individual, later identified as Rafael Mateo-Torres also entered Macy’s, selected thirteen items of clothing from the store valued in excess of $300 and then attempted to leave the store without paying for the merchandise. He was taken into custody by loss prevention and Oak Brook police officers without incident inside the store.
“The National Retail Federation estimates that retail theft cost businesses nationwide more than $112 billion last year, up from $96 billion in 2021,” Berlin said. “These losses cause significant financial hardship to businesses and their employees, higher prices for shoppers and loss of tax revenue for the entire community. I commend the Oak Brook Police Department for their work apprehending the two defendants in this case, as well as for their ongoing efforts to protect our businesses and patrons. I also thank Assistant State’s Attorneys, Sara Henley, Michael Pingaj as well as Anthony Raimondi for their work in securing charges against these two men.”
“The Oak Brook Police Department continues to proactively combat all forms of organized retail theft, and aggressively pursue offenders,” King said. “Through our continued collaboration with retail loss prevention agents and the DuPage State's Attorney's office, we can effectively investigate, arrest, and prosecute these criminals.”
The next court date for both men is scheduled for November 20, 2023, for arraignment in front of Judge Mia McPherson. As a condition of their release, both defendants will be fitted with an electronic monitoring device and must refrain from entering any Macy’s store.
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.
