Joliet police seeking more suspects in JCPenney thefts

JOLIET – Joliet police are seeking more suspects who have allegedly stolen items from JCPenney at the Louis Joliet Mall.

Arrest warrants were issued Wednesday for Jesse M. Lopez, 36, and Marvellin Gonzalez, 31, both of the 3100 block of Alyssa Street in Plano, and Alexis R. House, 18, of the 1100 block of Elizabeth Court in Crest Hill.

Joliet police allege that on July 29, Lopez and Gonzalez stole more than $300 worth of shoes, clothes and sunglasses from the JCPenney.

Lopez’s and Gonzalez’s bond were set at $100,000 and $25,000, respectively.

Calls to Joliet Deputy Police Chief Al Roechner were not immediately returned Thursday.

Aurora Acevedo, 41, who shares the same address as Lopez and Gonzalez, was an employee of JCPenney, and she is alleged on the same day as their theft to have recorded the sale of five clothing items for a couple with a 10-year-old son. The merchandise was not counted for purchase, police said.

Acevedo also allegedly removed the security devices on clothes that were not counted for purchase.

Acevedo was charged with stealing $1,400 worth of clothes from JCPenney. She was arrested on Aug. 3 and booked into the Will County jail. She was released from jail Sunday and as a condition of her bond, which was set at $7,500, she was to have no contact with the store.

Police are also seeking House, another JCPenney employee, on charges of theft and retail theft in connection with store, according to the criminal complaint.

Between May 23 and July 28, House allegedly stole between $10,000 and $100,000 cash from the store. She also allegedly under-rang merchandise at the cash register so it would reflect about $305 for clothes that had a full retail value of about $1,444.

House’s bond was set at $20,000.