Police: 22 pumpkins stolen from Joliet store

Joliet police issued a compliance ticket to a 37-year-old man for probable cause of theft in a case they have dubbed “The Great Pumpkin Theft.”

About 11 p.m. Oct. 6 at the 1401 W. Jefferson St. Jewel-Osco, Joliet police officers stopped a vehicle after someone called and said a man was stealing pumpkins from the store, Joliet police Sgt. Christopher Botzum said in an email.

Botzum said the officers found pumpkins inside a vehicle driven by Scott A. Kalkis of Joliet, who did not have a receipt for them.

Store staff also said they did not sell any pumpkins at the time, Botzum said.

Kalkis was given a compliance ticket for probable cause of theft, he said. Court records did not show any citations or charges against Kalkis.

Police said 22 pumpkins were stolen in "The Great Pumpkin Theft."