Police: 5 charged with felony theft stole thousands in software from Downers Grove Fry’s

DOWNERS GROVE — Five New York men — including three teenagers and one of their fathers — were charged with felony theft last week after Downers Grove police say they were found with more than $20,000 worth of merchandise stolen from Fry’s Electronics stores.

The reportedly stolen merchandise largely consisted of computer software — including more than $8,000 worth of TurboTax software — and almost three dozen pieces of hardware.

The men, all from Brooklyn, were identified as Thomas Cecere Jr., 18; Matthew Santomarco, 18; Ronald Zilberov, 19; Charles Perez, 28; and Thomas Cecere Sr., 43. They were each charged with burglary and felony retail theft.

Downers Grove police say they responded to a call of a retail theft in progress the evening of Dec. 19 at Downers Grove’s Fry Electronics, 3300 Finley Road.

Employees at the electronics store told police they were forewarned a retail theft crew that had been stealing large amounts of Microsoft software from other Fry’s Electronics locations.

When the five men entered the Downers Grove store about 6:30 p.m. Dec. 19, employees recognized them from surveillance footage from an Indiana Fry’s Electronics, they told police.

Employees told police they saw the five men working together to smuggle merchandise off the shelves and out of the store inside one of their coats.

The men left the store in a black 2012 Chrysler Town & Country minivan traveling southbound on Finley Road when they were pulled over by police, according to reports.

After obtaining a search warrant, police searched the minivan vehicle about 1 a.m. Thursday and reportedly found electronic items and software scattered in the back seat and inside large black garbage bags. Officers also found empty garbage bags and personal bags with clothing and toiletries, police say.

The extensive list of allegedly stolen property included 29 pieces of Microsoft software valued at $5,330 and 129 units of TurboTax software worth $8,510.

Police said the men were also found with 12 Garmin GPS devices worth $4,200; 18 hard drives worth $1,209; nine Bluetooth pieces worth $929.99; and five digital cameras valued at $1,033.

The five men remain at DuPage County Jail as of Wednesday, all on $10,000 bond except for Thomas Cecere Sr., who is being held on $15,000 bond.