Two arrest warrants obtained in connection with Sycamore retail thefts over several months, police say

SYCAMORE – After investigating multiple retail thefts over about four months in the area, Sycamore police said Thursday they obtained arrest warrants for two DeKalb residents police believe are responsible for the felony crimes.

According to a Thursday news release from the Sycamore Police Department, arrest warrants were obtained for Dontae L. Bell, 40, of DeKalb and Jill K. Roodhouse, 50, of DeKalb for retail theft, a Class 4 felony. If convicted, Bell and Roodhouse could face up to three years in prison for each charge.

Sycamore police wrote the multiple thefts occurred from January 2021 through May 2021. The involved places of business include HyVee at 2700 DeKalb Ave. in Sycamore, Meijer at 541 Puri Parkway in Sycamore, Menards at 1825 Mercantile Drive in Sycamore and Jewel at 1320 Sycamore Road in DeKalb, according to DeKalb County court documents.

“The thefts resulted in over $2,000 in merchandise taken,” police said in the release.

As of Friday afternoon, Roodhouse and Bell had not been processed at DeKalb County Jail, according to jail officials. Mug shots of Roodhouse and Bell were not immediately available Friday afternoon.

According to court documents, Roodhouse is accused of stealing more than $100 worth of merchandise from Meijer on Jan. 9 and more than $200 worth of goods from the store May 5. Roodhouse is accused of stealing no more than $300 from Jewel.

Roodhouse was “previously convicted of forgery in DeKalb,” referencing a 2018 case, and also had previous convictions for burglary and forgery in Winnebago County, court documents state.

Bell also is accused of stealing $70 worth of merchandise at HyVee on Jan. 5 and a total of hundreds of dollars’ worth of merchandise from Menards and Meijer in May, according to court documents. Bell is accused of stealing about $150 worth of goods from Meijer on Jan. 9, about $150 worth of goods from the grocery store on March 18, more than $200 worth of goods from the store on March 17, about $150 worth of goods from the merchant on March 20 and a $140 air fryer from Meijer on Jan. 11, according to court documents.

Bell also is accused of stealing a Starlight camera system valued at nearly $300 from Menards on May 6 and a Swann camera system valued at nearly $370 from Menards on May 12, according to court documents. Bell “has a prior conviction for theft” from 2014 out of DeKalb County, according to court documents.

The felony theft charges against Bell as of Friday evening had no listed court date, according to DeKalb County court records. Roodhouse is due back in court 11 a.m. Monday.